Production of activated carbon from corn cobs and mango kernels via H3PO4 activation and mediated hydrothermal treatment

Abstract

In this study, the activated carbon produced from mango kernels and corn cobs by impregnating the hydrothermally treated raw materials with 85% H3PO4 were characterize for their physical surface morphology and types of surface functional groups using SEM and FT-ir, respectively. Six samples of activated carbon were submerged for 1 hour, the second sample for 2 hours, and the third sample for 3 hours. SEM results showed that both KAC (Kernel Activated Carbon) and CAC (Corn Activated Carbon) had increasing roughness and irregularity along with residence time of the samples. Results from FT-ir (Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy) testing of the mango kernels samples showed that a C-O stretch, C-H, C=O stretch, and C-N stretch on the surface. While corncobs consist of C-H bend, and O-H bend for the 1-HR sample. The 2-HR and 3-HR samples consist of C-O stretch, C-H wag, C-N stretch. Analysis of the relationship between residence time and adsorptive capacity was done using AAS via batch adsorption in a tri-metal solution of Cu(Copper), Ni(Nickel), and Pb(Lead) with results that showed CAC and KAC, with soaking time of 3 hours is a good adsorbent of Copper and Nickel, while soaking time of 2 hours yields the best adsorption conditions for both CAC and KAC.