Microwave assisted K2CO3 palm shell activated carbon as sorbent for CO2 adsorption application

Abstract

Carbon dioxide is believed to be a major greenhouse gas (GHG) that contributes to global warming. In this study, palm shells were used as a precursor to prepare CO2 activated carbon sorbents via carbonization, chemical impregnation with K2CO3 and microwave activation. Adsorption equilibrium data for CO2 adsorption on the porous carbon were obtained at different temperatures using static volumetric adsorption method. Langmuir, Freundlich, Sips and Toths models were used to correlate the experimental data. The CO2 adsorption capacity at 303.15, 343.15, 378.15 443.15 K and 1 bar on the sorbent was 2.71, 1.5, 0.77, 0.69 mmol/g respectively. Sips isotherm was found to have the best fit. The results indicated that the porous carbon sorbent prepared by carbonization and microwave K2CO3 assisted activation have good CO2 uptake. The porous carbons produced are therefore good candidates for CO2 adsorption applications.