Short Review on the Use of Oil Palm Shell in Concrete and Activated Carbon

Abstract

Oil palm is known as Elaeis guineensis, found in Africa, South East Asia and China. Oil palm shell is used to prepare activated carbon because of high carbon content, high surface area, highly developed porosity and low price. During the physical activation, carbonization occurs in order to create porosity in the raw material. Literature review indicated that carbon material was impregnated with chemical agents such as phosphoric acid, potassium hydroxide, sulphuric acid, sodium hydroxide and zinc chloride in chemical activation process. Experimental results showed that the obtained activated carbon was used in hydrogen storage purpose, supercapacitor, gases and liquid phase adsorption process. On the other hand, oil palm shell was used in manufacturing lightweight concrete because of lighter and will not produce toxic substance. The bulk density and compressive strength of oil palm shell-based concrete were 500 - 600 kg/m3 and more than 25 MPa, respectively.