Activation of carbon at different concentration microsphere adsorbent and its application for ibuprofen adsorption

Abstract

A synthesis is presented in this research, microspheres carbon by mixing Pluronic F127 triblock copolymer, which was used as a main pore size direction, gelatine as a codirecting agent, Sucrose becomes the main ingredient of carbon precursor and H2SO4 be a catalyst. The mixture solution carried out at hydrothermal reactor followed by evaporation, partial carbonization, and pyrolysis under nitrogen flow. After being microspheres carbon have activated by KOH solution at room temperature for 24 h using a variation of the KOH concentration at 5, 10, 15 and 20 (%w/v), respectively. Activated Microspheres carbon have characterized by SEM and FTIR. In this study, it was found that carbon mass after activation is increased due to the deposition of potassium and a free water molecule. The morphology of microspheres carbon after activation process observed as soccer balls-like with pore size 0.5-15 m with numerous of carbonyl and hydroxyl group. In this study, it was found that the greater the activator concentration, the greater the adsorption capacity, due to potassium deposition and water molecules. Maximum adsorb capacity is at 20% KOH concentration at 35 minutes. Microspheres for drug delivery systems are interesting to study.