Sains Malaysiana 48(2)(2019): 385–391

http://dx.doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2019-4802-16

Physical and Chemical Properties of the Rice Straw Activated Carbon Produced from Carbonization and KOH Activation Processes

(Sifat Fizikal dan Kimia Karbon Teraktif Jerami Padi yang Terhasil melalui Proses Pengkarbonan dan Pengaktifan KOH)

MOHAMAD JANI SAAD^1,4, CHIN HUA CHIA^1*, SARANI ZAKARIA¹, MOHD SHAIFUL SAJAB², SUFIAN MISRAN³, MOHAMMAD HARIZ ABDUL RAHMAN⁴ & SIEW XIAN CHIN⁵

¹Bioresources and Biorefinery Laboratory, Materials Science Program, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

²Research Centre for Sustainable Process Technology, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

³Forest Research Institute of Malaysia, 52100 Kepong, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

⁴Green Technology Program, Agrobiodiversity and Environment Research Centre, Malaysian Agriculture Research and Development Institute, 43400 Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

⁵ASASIpintar Program, Pusat PERMATApintar®, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

Received: 1 June 2018/Accepted: 12 October 2018

ABSTRACT

In this study, highly porous activated carbon was produced from rice straw by carbonization and followed by activation using potassium hydroxide (KOH). Activated carbon samples were prepared under different activation temperatures, i.e., 650, 750 and 850°C, and their physical and chemical properties were characterized accordingly. The BET surface area of the activated carbon samples was increased from 520 to 1048 m2/g with the increase of activation temperature from 650 to 850°C. These values were much higher than the non-activated rice straw carbon i.e., 1.16 m2/g. The pore sizes of the rice straw activated carbon were found to be mainly in mesopore size range of 2-50 nm. Total carbon content of the AC sample was increased from 8.35% to 31.73% with the increase of activation temperature from 650 to 850°C. XRD and Raman spectroscopy confirmed the graphite properties of the activated carbons produced. SEM images proved high porosity of the AC after KOH activation.

Keywords: Activated carbon; biomass; lignocellulosic

ABSTRAK

Dalam kajian ini, karbon teraktif berliang tinggi telah dihasilkan daripada jerami padi melalui proses pengkarbonan dan diikuti dengan pengaktifan bersama kalium hidroksida (KOH). Sampel karbon teraktif disediakan pada suhu pengaktifan yang berbeza, iaitu 650, 750 dan 850°C dan sifat fizikal dan kimia sampel tersebut dicirikan. Luas permukaan sampel arang teraktif meningkat daripada 520 ke 1048 m2/g dengan peningkatan suhu pengaktifan daripada 650 ke 850°C. Nilai ini adalah jauh lebih tinggi berbanding sampel karbon jerami padi tanpa melalui proses pengaktifan, iaitu 1.16 m2/g. Saiz liang karbon teraktif adalah pada saiz liang meso, iaitu dalam julat saiz 2-50 nm. Kandungan karbon bagi sampel arang teraktif telah meningkat daripada 8.35% kepada 31.73% dengan peningkatan suhu pengaktifan daripada 650 kepada 850°C. Analisis XRD dan spektroskopi Raman telah membuktikan sifat grafit karbon teraktif yang terhasil. Imej SEM membuktikan sifat keliangan yang tinggi bagi karbon teraktif jerami padi selepas proses pengaktifan KOH.

Kata kunci: Biojisim; karbon teraktif; lignoselulosa

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*Corresponding author; email: chia@ukm.edu.my