Optimization of Process Parameters for the Production of Activated Carbon from Delonix Regia Pod Through Chemical Activation and Carbonization Process
2019
Latinwo, Ganiyu K. | Alade, Abass O. | Agarry, Samuel E. | Dada, Ebenezer O.
The objective of this work is to optimize the production of a low-cost activated carbon from Delonix regia (flamboyant) pods through chemical activation with ethanoic acid and carbonization (pyrolysis) process. The effect of production process variables; carbonization temperature, carbonization time and impregnation ratio on the activated carbon yield and surface area (using methylene blue number (MBN) and iodine value number (IVN) as indices) were evaluated using the D-Optimal design of experiment of response surface methodology (RSM). The influence of the production process variables on the Delonix regia pod-derived activated carbon (DRP-AC) was analysed using the analysis of variance (ANOVA) to identify the significant variables. The variations in yield, MBN and IVN of DRP-AC with respect to temperature, time and impregnation ratio were very significant. The quadratic regression models were found to be significant (p < 0.05) and well suitable and satisfactory ( > 0.95) in predicting the yield, MBN and IVN in relation to the production process variables. DRP-AC with maximum or optimum yield of 20.24%, optimum MBN of 71.89 mg/g and IVN of 80.45 mg/g was obtained using optimum production process conditions of: 500 oC (carbonization temperature), 60 min (carbonization time), and 3.78:1 (impregnation ratio). These experimental values were in good agreement with the values predicted by the model with relatively small percentage error (0.33). Fourier-infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis of the surface of the DRP-ACs revealed the presence of adequate functional groups. Therefore, Delonix regia pods are good precursor for activated carbons production.
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