Preparation and Characterisation of Activated Carbon From Pumpkin Seed Shell Using H3PO4

Abstract

In this study, activated carbons were produced from pumpkin seed shell by chemical activation. In chemical activation, H3PO4 was used as chemical agent. The effects of impregnation ratio (IR) and activation temperature were investigated. Activation temperatures and impregnation ratios were selected in the range of 400-600 C and 1-3, respectively. The surface area, pore volumes, pore size distribution and average pore diameter of the activated carbons were characterized by N2 adsorption at 77 K using the BET, t-plot and DFT methods. The highest BET surface area and total pore volume of the activated carbon was obtained as 1421 m 2 /g and 0.908 cm 3 /g at 500 C activation temperature and at an impregnation ratio of 2, respectively. The morphology and functional groups present were investigated by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The experimental results show that the activation temperature and the impregnation ratio have a significant effect on the pore structure of the activated carbon and pumpkin seed shell seemed to be an alternative precursor for the commercial activated carbon productions.