Preparation of oil palm (Elaeis) empty fruit bunch activated carbon by microwave-assisted KOH activation for the adsorption of methylene blue

In this study, oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB), an industrial waste abundantly available in Malaysia, was utilized as a feedstock for preparation of activated carbon (EFBAC) via KOH chemical activation using a microwave device operating at 2.45 GHz. The activation process was performed at an input power of 360 W and an irradiation time of 15 min. EFBAC was characterized by means of low temperature nitrogen adsorption, scanning electron microscope, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and elemental analysis. It was found that the BET surface area, total pore volume and average pore size were 807.54 m2/g, 0.45 cm3/g, and 21.93 Å respectively. The adsorption behavior was well described by the Langmuir isotherm model, showing a monolayer adsorption capacity for methylene blue of 344.83 mg/g. The results revealed the potential to prepare activated carbon from oil palm empty fruit bunch by microwave irradiation.

Research highlights
► Oil palm empty fruit bunch activated carbon was prepared by microwave-assisted KOH activation.
► The activation time was 15 min at the power of 360 W.
► The BET surface area and total pore volume were 807.54 m2/g and 0.45 cm3/g.
► The monolayer adsorption capacity for methylene blue was 344.83 mg/g.