Carbonization Temperature Effect over Activated Carbon Porosity Derived from Industrial Processing Waste

The influence of carbonization temperature (CT) on pore properties of the prepared activated carbon using lentil processing waste product (LWP) impregnated with potassium carbonate was studied. Activated carbons (ACs) were obtained by impregnation with 3:1 ratio (w/w) K2CO3/LWP under different carbonization temperatures at 600, 700, 800 and 900 oC for 1h. Activation at low temperature represented that micropores were developed first and then mesoporosity developed, enhanced up to 800 oC and then started to decrease due to possible shrinking of pores. The optimum temperature for LWP was found to be around 800 oC on the basis of total pore volume and the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area. The optimum LWPAC sample was found with a CT of 800 oC, which gives the highest BET surface area and pore volume of 1875 m2/g and 0.995 cm3/g, respectively.