Effect Of Activation Temperature And Time In The Development Of Activated Carbon Derived From Banana Peel

The main aim of this project is to study the prospective of using banana peel as potential adsorbent in eliminating carbon dioxide from polluted air in the atmosphere. The study emphasizes on the parameters involved in the preparation of the banana peel biosorbent, such as activating agent, activation temperature and activation time. Initially, the dried banana peel is grinded into powder form, then chemically activated using either potassium hydroxide and carbonized at different sets of temperature and time. This carbonization process allows the formation of activated carbon, one of a common type of adsorbent used globally especially in industries’ effluent treating. The biosorbent then is further heated by microwave-heating method in order to find out either the product becomes better or vice versa. The characterization of agro-based activated carbon is done using the surface area analyzer (Micromeritics ASAP 2020) and the Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) to determine which set of parameters produces the largest surface area estimated using the BET theory (SBET) which is directly proportional to the effectiveness of biosorbent. In addition, the activated carbons developed from banana peel are also tested for their adsorption capacity with typical pollutants found in industrial emission such as carbon dioxide using HPVA II analyzer. The samples were also analysed for its elemental composition before and after carbonization which results in 58.67 wt% and 56.18 wt% respectively for its carbon content. Sample MW2 was recognized to yield activated carbon with largest surface area, SBET of 1142.7893 m2/g and pore diameter of 2.22765 nm which falls in mesoporosity subclass. Sample MW2 with particle size of 0.25 mm was prepared using potassium hydroxide as activating agent with 1:1 impregnation ratio and carbonized for two hours at 400oC. Sample MW2 then is further tested for carbon dioxide adsorption at 25oC which is able to adsorb carbon dioxide