Preparation and characterization of rice husk based physical activated carbon

Activated carbons (ACs) were successfully prepared from rice husk by physical activation method. In the present study, the ACs were prepared at different activation temperatures for a specified activation time interval of 1h in a flow of CO2 gas as an activating agent. The resulted product was analyzed by various characterization techniques, such as Brunauer, Emmett and Teller (BET), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Thermogravemetric analysis (TGA) and X-Ray Diffractometry (XRD). The maximum surface area of about 502 m2/g was obtained from the sample activated at 900°C for a time interval of 1h. The SEM microphotographs of the ACs exhibited a well-developed porous structure with different pore sizes. The TGA analysis confirmed the pyrolyzed rick husk (char) conversion that took place around 580°C. The XRD analysis of all the precursors and their resulted ACs were also performed. Wherein, the XRD results established the amorphous carbon structure of the product resulted. The FTIR analysis also confirmed the presence of various peak frequencies of functional groups before and after activation.