CHARACTERIZATION OF MICROPOROUS ACTIVATED CARBON FROM COCONUT SHELLS BIOCHAR USING SODIUM CHLORIDE AS CHEMICAL ACTIVATION AGENT

Abstract

Activated carbon (AC) derived from coconut shells is extensively used in various industries due to its remarkable properties, such as high surface area and excellent physical and chemical stability. In this study, coconut shell activated carbon (CSAC) was produced using sodium chloride (NaCl) as a chemical activating agent at room temperature. This study examined how different NaCl concentrations (15%, 20%, and 25%) influenced the quality of the activated carbon produced. The raw coconut shells underwent carbonization at 400 °C, followed by chemical activation with NaCl. The characteristics of the activated carbon were evaluated based on parameters such as pore volume, bulk density, iodine number, and microstructure. Results indicated that increasing the NaCl concentration enhanced both pore volume and iodine number, while reducing density. The best performance was achieved with 25% NaCl, yielding an iodine number of 1068 mg/g and a pore volume of 0.19 cm³/g after 24 hours of treatment at room temperature. SEM analysis confirmed the presence of a highly porous surface morphology. Overall, the findings highlight NaCl as an effective and economical activating agent for producing high-quality activated carbon from coconut shells. The resulting CSAC exhibited properties comparable to commercial activated carbon, demonstrating its potential for industrial applications such as water treatment.