Sains Malaysiana 43(9)(2014): 1421–1428

Microwave-Induced Zinc Chloride Activated Palm Kernel Shell for Dye Removal

(Isirong Sawit Teraktif Zink Klorida dengan Gelombang Mikro Sebagai Penyingkir Warna)

MUHAMMAD ABBAS AHMAD ZAINI*, TAN WEE MENG, MOHD. JOHARI KAMARUDDIN,

SITI HAMIDAH MOHD SETAPAR & MOHD. AZIZI CHE YUNUS

Centre of Lipids Engineering and Applied Research (CLEAR), Faculty of Chemical Engineering

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 UTM, Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia

Received: 11 February 2013/Accepted: 4 February 2014

ABSTRACT

This work is aimed to determine the characteristics of activated carbons derived from palm kernel shell (PKS) by microwave-induced zinc chloride activation for dye removal. Activation was performed in a microwave oven at power intensity of 70% for 10 min. The same procedures were repeated for activation using recycled ZnCl2 solution from the first activation. The activated carbons were characterized according to surface area, morphology, functional groups and batch adsorption. The yield for the first activation was 70.7% with surface area of 858m₂/g. It was found that the activated carbon prepared using the recycled ZnCl2 still possesses good surface area for methylene blue removal. The adsorption behaviour of the continuous system was well fitted to and could be satisfactorily described by the Yoon and Nelson model.

Keywords: Adsorption; methylene blue; microwave heating; palm kernel shell; zinc chloride activation

ABSTRAK

Kajian ini bertujuan untuk menentukan ciri karbon teraktif daripada isirong sawit (PKS) dengan pengaktifan zink klorida (ZnCl2) berbantukan gelombang mikro sebagai penjerap warna. Pengaktifan dilakukan dalam ketuhar gelombang mikro pada keamatan kuasa 70% selama 10 min. Prosedur yang sama diulang bagi pengaktifan menggunakan ZnCl2 yang dikitar semula daripada pengaktifan pertama. Karbon teraktif dicirikan mengikut luas permukaan, morfologi, kumpulan berfungsi dan penjerapan berkelompok. Hasil untuk pengaktifan pertama ialah 70.7% dengan luas permukaan 858 m₂/g. Juga didapati bahawa karbon teraktif yang disediakan dengan ZnCl2 yang dikitar semula masih mempunyai luas permukaan yang baik untuk penyingkiran metilena biru. Sifat penjerapan sistem berterusan adalah menepati dan boleh digambarkan dengan model Yoon dan Nelson.

Kata kunci: Isirong sawit; metilena biru; pemanasan gelombang mikro; pengaktifan zink klorida; penjerapan

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*Corresponding author; email: abbas@cheme.utm.my