ACTIVATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF CARBON OBTAINED FROM COCONUT SHELLS.

Abstract

The objective of this project was to conduct physical and chemical characterization of the carbon derived from carbonized coconut shells using a charcoal kiln at a temperature of 656°C. The carbon of particle sizes of 0.5mm and 2mm where activated using three chemical activating agents H3PO4, KOH, and NaCl. The physico-chemical characterization conducted includes particle size analysis, Bulk density, pH, moisture content and iodine number determination using standard procedures. The analysis of the three activated carbons indicated that under conditions of preparation, the activated carbon possess high efficiencies of activation with iodine number ranging from 662.88mg/g - 854.37mg/g (H3PO4), 216.09mg/g -850.37mg/g (KOH) and 262.78mg/g -846.02mg/g (NaCl) for 0.5mm activated carbon and for 2mm activated carbon, iodine number values were 318.48mg/g -836.02mg/g (H3PO4), 150.90mg/g-818.43mg/g(KOH) and 206.78mg/g-712.75mg/g (NaCl).