Porous structure and adsorptive properties of pineapple peel based activated carbons prepared via microwave assisted KOH and K2CO3 activation

The present research explores the feasibility of microwave irradiation for preparation of high surface area activated carbon from pineapple peel (PPAC), an agricultural effluent emitted from the food can processing industries via KOH and K2CO3 activation. The activation process was performed at the microwave power of 600 W and irradiation time of 6 min. The equilibrium behavior of PPAC was investigated by performing batch adsorption experiments using methylene blue as adsorbate. Nonlinear adsorption isotherm models, Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin were used to simulate the equilibrium data. KOH activated sample demonstrated a better development of pore structure, with the BET surface area, total pore volume and average pore size of 1006 m2/g, 0.59 m3/g and 23.44 Å, respectively, while the monolayer adsorption capacity of methylene blue was determined to be 462.10 mg/g. The findings support the potential use of microwave assisted KOH and K2CO3 activation as a promising activation technique.

The present research explores the feasibility of microwave irradiation for preparation of high surface area activated carbon from pineapple peel (PPAC), an agricultural effluent emitted from the food can processing industries, via KOH and K2CO3 activation.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights
► Feasibility of microwave irradiation for preparation of activated carbon from pineapple peel (PPAC).
► Activation time of 6 min at the power of 600 W.
► BET and Langmuir surface area of 1006 and 1513 m2/g.
► Monolayer Adsorption capacity of PPAC for methylene blue is 462.10 mg/g.
► Adsorption data were stimulated using nonlinear isotherm models.