PRODUCTION OR ACTIVATED CARBON FROM COCONUT SHELL USING DIFFERENT CHEMICALS AND COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE ADSORPTION EFFICIENCIES.

Abstract

Activated carbon is a crude form of graphite and a generic term used to describe a family of carbonaceous adsorbent material, possessing a highly crystalline form and extensively developed internal pore structures, colour, texture and odour. In this research, activated carbon was prepared from coconut shell using physicohemical activation method, which includes the treatment with different activating chemical (H204, HCl, ZnCl2, CaO3 CaCl3, H3P04) and pyrolyzation with heat. The processes used include carbonization of simples, oxidation, washing of samples, chemical activation with different activating chemicals serially for 24hrs, drying of samples in an oven for 1hr at a temperature of 1500C, pounding and sieving of samples to different sizes. The percentage yields of the material before activation was 96% and after activation was 93%, respectively. Digital pH meters and digital turbidity meter were the instruments used in the evaluation of the adsorption efficiencies, using samples of vinegar and fresh smelling fish water. The results show that in the order of the adsorption efficiencies of these activating chemicals, ZnCl2 is the lowest adsorption efficiency (45/12%), while CaCl2 has the highest (83.93%).