ACTIVATED CARBON FROM DURIAN SEED BY H₃PO₄ ACTIVATION: PREPARATION AND PORE STRUCTURE CHARACTERIZATION

Abstract

Activated carbons have been produced from the natural biomaterial durian (Durio zibethinus) seed, using phosphoric acid (H3PO4) as the activating agent. The effects of impregnation ratio, activation temperature, heating rate on the carbon surface area, porosity and mass yield are presented. A two step process has been used, the first step was a low temperature impregnation at 150 °C using phosphoric acid and the second step was the carbonization at high temperatures, namely, 600 and 900 °C. The most outstanding carbon with the highest surface area of 2123 m2/g was prepared using an impregnation ratio of 2, an activation temperature of 600 °C for 4 h and a heating rate of 1 °C/min. Keywords: activated carbon, durian seed, phosphoric acid activation