A Study on the Preparation and Adsorption Properties of Active Carbon From Peach Kernel

Abstract

Peach Kernel (PK) is considered one from many agricultural wastes that represents negative impact on the environment. This work describes a method for the preparation of activated carbon from PK, converting its negative impact on the environment, to positive to be used for removal of contamination. The activated carbon (AC) was prepared in two separate steps of carbonization and activation at 550 & 600 o C. The physical activation was performed by water vapor. The mechanism of adsorption varies from physical and chemical adsorptions. The Fruendlich and Langmuir equations were determined. The yields of produced AC for PK samples were 36.82 % and 15.30 % at 550 o C and 650 o C respectively. Tests were made on prepared AC activated at 650 o C. The percentage moisture content varied from 2.94-3.72 %. The percentage volatile matter content varied from 42.51-61.93 % for PK powder and granules respectively. The percentage ash content varied from 0.49 to 2.41%. The apparent density varied from 0.508 to 0.565 g/cm 3. The pores volumes varied from 0.525-0.573 cm 3 /cm 3. The iodine numbers for non-activated PK carbon samples were 254.80-344.90 for granules and powder respectively. The iodine numbers for activated PK carbon samples were 370.16 and 507.60 for granules and powder respectively. The surface areas by multi-point BET were 26.009 and 40.277 m 2 /g for non-activated and activated PK respectively. The SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope) images of PK AC show irregular spherical shapes with average diameter of (5-16) nm and macro pores with diameters of greater than 50 nm. The adsorption of