Optimization of the activated carbon preparation from avocado seeds, using the response surface methodology

Abstract

Avocado seeds based activated carbon was prepared using chemical activation method which consisted of potassium hydroxide treatment. The main factors influencing the preparation of activated carbons at the calcination temperature, the concentration of the activating agent and the duration of calcination were investigated. One used as a mathematical model the response surface methodology to correlate the response. The significant factors identified by the analysis of variance (ANOVA) through the t-test, the Pareto diagram and the diagrams of surfaces. The optimum avocado seeds based activated carbon was obtained by using calcination temperature of 450oC, concentration of activating agent of 0.3 mol/L and time of calcination of 3.0 h, which resulted to an avocado seed based activated carbon iodine number remove of 1142.1 mg/g and yield of 75.09 %, by mass. The best activated carbon obtained under the previous conditions and the raw biomass was characterized by Fourier transform infrared and Scanning Electronic Microscope.