Production of activated carbon from mango seed coat using chemical activation

Abstract

Aim: This study was carried out find the feasibility of utilizing raw mango seed coat under various process conditions to produce the best activated carbon by chemical activation and compared with commercial activated carbon. Methodology: Activated carbon was produced by chemical activation under various process conditions such as different a c t i v a t i o n t e m p e r a t u r e s, activating agents, impregnation v o l u m e p e r c e n t a g e s a n d activation times for pyrolysis in a programmable electrical furnace with reactor in the absence of air. Results: The results were compared using phosphoric acid h a v i n g 5 0 % i m p r e g n a t i o n volume to other activating a g e n t s, t h e a c t i v a t i n g t e m p e r a t u r e w a s 4 0 0 oC, activation time 1 hr, iodine number, methylene blue number, % yield and B.E.T surface area being 831 mg g-1, 212 mg g-1, 4 1. 0 9 % a n d 111 4 m 2g -1 respectively. Interpretation: Carbon samples prepared using mango seed coat treated by H3PO4, showed clear nline open porous structures along with a larger pore size compared to commercially available activated carbon.