Characterization of activated carbon from rambutan seed (nephelium lappaceum) as natural precursor

Abstract

Activated carbons were prepared from rambutan seed with impregnation of zinc chloride as activating agent. In order to find its characteristics, different zinc chloride to rambutan seed ratio (0.5 and 2) and activation temperature (450°C and 650°C) was employed. The carbonization occurred in a tube furnace with flow of nitrogen gas at rate of 0.5L/min. The results showed that at higher impregnation ratio and carbonization temperature produced a wider BET surface area of activated carbon that was 9.8761m²/g with ratio 2 and temperature of 650°C. Total pore volume also increased with increases of these two factors with highest value of 16.521E-03cm3/g. However activation yield was increased with decreasing of carbonization temperature and increasing in impregnation ratio. The highest activation yield obtained at 450°C of carbonization and impregnate at ratio 2 with percentage yield of 35.9%. Activated carbons then were tested on synthetic wastewater with pH 11 to study its pH reduction upon contact time and adsorbent dosage. Reduction of pH ranging 6.3 to 6.8 with employment of 120 minutes contact time and 2g/100ml adsorbent dose.