Continuous Carbonization and Activation Process of Activated Carbon from Agriculture Waste

A continuous system of carbonization and activation process of activated carbon (AC) derived from agriculture waste was successfully developed. The results obtained indicate that the AC produced by the system exhibits excellent performance, with a maximum yield of palm shell AC was recorded more than 30% and fixed carbon content exceeding 70% for both palm shell AC and coconut shell AC. The morphological analysis through SEM analysis shows that the surface morphology of palm shell AC indicates smaller pore sizes, with a higher formation of mesopores and micropores compared to coconut shell AC. The AC then was further tested for Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area where palm shell AC yield the highest surface area with the value of 678 m2/g. Given that the BET surface area value fell between 500 and 1500 m2/g, which is the permissible range for commercial AC, palm shell AC's adsorption performance was deemed dependable. This study demonstrated the potential for continuous AC production systems to improve the efficiency and quality of activated carbon production. Furthermore, the use of agriculture waste materials as raw materials for this system can contribute to sustainable development.