Activated Carbon Synthesis from Marula (Sclerocarya Birrea) Biomass for Oil Refining: A Brief Review

Abstract

Marula trees are native to the southern Africa and are known for their edible fruits and nuts. Marula nutshells which are the hard marula fruit seed, a result of sclerocarya birrea (marula) fruit processing are an abundant underused biomass in Rutenga, Zimbabwe. They have a high carbon content and porous nature, making them suitable for activated carbon synthesis. This review investigates the potential of value adding sclerocarya birrea (marula) nutshells through activated carbon production, for use in the marula oil refining. The use of sclerocarya birrea biomass/nutshells for synthesis of activated carbon addresses the issue of circular economy by using waste generated at the oil manufacturing factory to produce the oil refining agent and also addresses the issues of sustainability by using waste as a raw material. The review explored physical and chemical activated carbon synthesis methods and identified pyrolysis temperature and chemical type as the key critical parameters. The review further examines the potential of marula-derived activated carbon in oil refining, specifically in the removal of contaminants, pigments and oxidation products.