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Optimization of activated carbon production from empty fruit bunch fibers in one-step steam pyrolysis for cadmium removal from aqueous solution

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Abstract

The fast growth of the palm oil industry in Malaysia is associated with various waste products, namely the empty fruit bunches (EFB), which have a negative impact on the environment. Therefore, these wastes were utilized as a cheap raw material for the production of activated carbon (AC) with less energy consumption. One-step steam pyrolysis was used to produce AC from oil palm empty fruit bunch fibers (EFBF) by varying the operating parameters of temperature, steam flow rate, and activation time using two-level full factorial experimental design (FFD). Ten samples of AC were prepared and the optimized production conditions were chosen based on the ability to adsorb and remove cadmium. Physical activation comprised of carbonization for 30 min using nitrogen gas (N2), followed by activation with steam at different flow rates (2.0, 3.0, and 4.0 ml/min), temperatures (600, 750, and 900°C) and times (15, 30, and 45 min). The AC sample produced at an activation temperature of 900°C with a steam flow rate of 2.0 ml/min and activation time of 15 min was selected as the best adsorbent with a total yield of 21.7%. It had adsorbed more than 97% of total cadmium from aqueous solution within 2 min of the contact time. Characterization of EFBF-based AC by SEM and BET surface area analysis had shown a good-quality adsorbent with highly active sites and well-developed pores with BET surface area of 635.16 m2/g. Experimental results indicated that the prepared AC from EFBF provide a promising solution in water and wastewater treatment.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are very grateful to the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia for the provision of research grant under the Fundamental Research Grant Scheme under FRGS 0207-55 for this project. The authors acknowledge the valuable input of Mrs. Iman Husain on the FTIR results. The authors are also grateful to Ms. Noor Yuslida binti Hazahari for proofreading the article.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bioenvironmental Engineering Research Unit (BERU), Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, International Islamic University Malaysia, P.O. Box 10, 50728, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    Ma’an F. Alkhatib, Suleyman A. Muyibi & Jeminat Omotayo Amode

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  1. Ma’an F. Alkhatib
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  2. Suleyman A. Muyibi
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  3. Jeminat Omotayo Amode
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Correspondence to Ma’an F. Alkhatib.

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Alkhatib, M.F., Muyibi, S.A. & Amode, J.O. Optimization of activated carbon production from empty fruit bunch fibers in one-step steam pyrolysis for cadmium removal from aqueous solution. Environmentalist 31, 349–357 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10669-011-9342-9

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