Physical and Chemical Activation Effect on Activated Carbon Prepared from Local Pineapple Waste

The characteristics and quality of activated carbons prepared depending on the chemical and physical properties of the starting materials and the activation method used. In this study, activated carbon prepared using pineapple waste. Three parts of pineapple waste which comprises of peel, crown and leaf were studied. For comparison activated carbon were prepared by both physical and chemical activation respectively. Three types of chemicals were used, phosphoric acid (H 3 PO 4 ), sulphuric acid (H 2 SO 4 ), and potassium hydroxide (KOH). The preparation includes carbonization at 200 ° C and activation at the 400°C using muffle furnace. The chemical characterization of the activated carbon was carried out using Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Nitrogen gas adsorption analysis and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR). The highest BET surface area was achieved when the pineapple peel soaked in 20% phosphoric acid with a surface area of 1115 m 2 g -1 . FTIR analysis indicates that the reacted pineapple waste successfully converted into activated carbons.