Chemical Activation of Coconut Shell Charcoal by Zinc Chloride

Author : Tallada, Yvette G.
Major Adviser : Capareda, Sergio C.
Committee Members : Acda, Reynaldo I.; Demafelis, Rex B. 
Year : 1993
Month : April
Type : Thesis
Degree: BS
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Abstract

Activated carbon was produced from carbonized coconut shells using zinc chloride as activating agent. The effect of varying impregnation ratio and activation temperature on the quality of the product were investigated by measuring its iodine number and developing an iodine adsorption isotherm curve. The physical characteristics of the carbons were also determined by measuring its ash content, moisture content and bulk density.

The average iodine numbers for both activation temperatures increased with impregnation ratio. The maximum iodine number for activated carbon produced at 600 °C was 570.90. For 700 °C, the maximum iodine number was 469.75. Both impregnation ratio and activation temperature were found to have significant interaction effects on the results of the means obtained for the iodine number. The ash content of the activated carbon produced at both temperatures increased from the content of the unactivated charcoal due to the presence of unremoved inorganic materials. The bulk density decreased for the carbon activated at 600 °C and increased for carbon activated at 700 °C. The moisture content of the activated carbons, on the other hand, increased when compared tot he unactivated charcoal.

The Freundlich equations which were derived by dividing the isotherm into two regions were X/M = 202.44 *C₁¹/⁵·⁰⁵ and X/M = 0.43 *C₁¹/⁰·⁸⁰. From the equations, it was found that less amount of activated carbon is required to adsorb the same amount of iodine at higher concentration of solution.


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