SpringerLink
Log in

Activated Carbon from Date Palm Seed: Process Optimization Using Response Surface Methodology

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Waste and Biomass Valorization Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Date palm being one of the major biomass sources, largely being cultivated in UAE, is assessed for its potential to be an appropriate precursor for preparation of porous carbon. Porous carbon is prepared using the date palm pits in a tubular furnace with CO2 as the activating agent assessing the effect of process variables activation temperature, activation time and CO2 flow rate. Process optimization is performed to identify the process conditions that maximize the yield and BET surface area of the porous carbon using surface response methodology (RSM) based on central composite design (CCD). The influence of process parameters on the properties of porous carbon is investigated using analysis of variance (ANOVA) to identify the significant parameters. The optimum conditions for the preparation of porous carbon has been identified to be an activation temperature of 971°C, activation time of 56 min and CO2 flow rate of 5.1 cc/min based on the maximizing the yield and BET surface area. The optimum yield and BET surface area has been predicted to be 14.8% and 666 m2/g using the process optimization software. The textural characteristic of the optimized sample using nitrogen adsorption isotherm show the carbon to be predominantly microporous with the mean pore diameter estimated to be 1.76 nm using NLDFT method.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
EUR 32.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or Ebook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price includes VAT (Germany)

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Mohan, D., Singh, K.P., Singh, V.K.: Wastewater treatment using low cost activated carbons derived from agricultural byproducts—a case study. J. Hazard. Mater. 152, 1045–1053 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Singh, K.P., Malik, A., Sinha, S., Ojha, P.: Liquid-phase adsorption of phenols using activated carbons derived from agricultural waste material. J. Hazard. Mater. 150, 626–641 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Tan, I.A.W., Ahmad, A.L., Hameed, B.H.: Adsorption of basic dye on high-surface-area activated carbon prepared from coconut husk: equilibrium, kinetic and thermodynamic studies. J. Hazard. Mater. 154, 337–346 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Hameed, B.H., El-Khaiary, M.I.: Sorption kinetics and isotherm studies of a cationic dye using agricultural waste: broad bean peels. J. Hazard. Mater. 154, 639–648 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Sahu, J.N., Agarwal, S., Meikap, B.C., Biswas, M.N.: Performance of a modified multi-stage bubble column reactor for lead(II) and biological oxygen demand removal from wastewater using activated rice husk. J. Hazard. Mater. 161, 317–324 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Demirbas, E., Kobya, M., Konukman, A.E.S.: Error analysis of equilibrium studies for the almond shell activated carbon adsorption of Cr(VI) from aqueous solutions. J. Hazard. Mater. 154, 787–794 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Karagozoglu, B., Tasdemir, M., Demirbas, E., Kobya, M.: The adsorption of basic dye (Astrazon Blue FGRL) from aqueous solutions onto sepiolite, fly ash and apricot shell activated carbon: Kinetic and equilibrium studies. J. Hazard. Mater. 147, 297–306 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Bota, A., Laszlo, K., Nagy, L., Lajos, G., Copitzky, T.: Comparative study of active carbons from different precursors. Langmuir 13, 6502–6509 (1997)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. El-Naas, M.H., Al-Zuhair, S., Abu Alhaija, M.: Reduction of COD in refinery wastewater through adsorption on date-pit activated carbon. J. Hazard. Mater. 173, 750–757 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Salman, J.M., Njoku, V.O., Hameed, B.H.: Bentazon and carbofuran adsorption onto date seed activated carbon: kinetics and equilibrium. Chem. Eng. J. 173, 361–368 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Hameed, B.H., Salman, J.M., Ahmad, A.L.: Adsorption isotherm and kinetic modeling of 2,4-D pesticide on activated carbon derived from date stones. J. Hazard. Mater. 163, 121–126 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Al-Baker, A.: Date Palm. Al-Any Press, Baghdad (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Alam, Z., Muyibi, S.A., Toramae, J.: Statistical optimization of adsorption processes for removal of 2,4-dichlorophenol by activated carbon derived from oil palm empty fruit bunches. J. Environ. Sci. 19, 674–677 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Karacan, F., Ozden, U., Karacan, S.: Optimization of manufacturing conditions for activated carbon from Turkish lignite by chemical activation using response surface methodology. Appl. Therm. Eng. 27, 1212–1218 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Bacaoui, A., Yaacoubi, A., Dahbi, A., Bennouna, C., Phan Tan Luu, R., Maldonado Hodar, F.J., Rivera-utrilla, J., Moreno-Castilla, C.: Optimization of conditions for the preparation of activated carbons from olive-waste cakes. Carbon 39, 425–432 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Azargohar, R., Dalai, A.K.: Production of activated carbon from Luscar char: experimental and modeling studies. Microporous. Mesoporous. Mater. 85, 219–225 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. **n-hui, D., Srinivasakannan, C., **-hui, P., Li-bo, Z., Zheng-yong, Z.: Preparation of activated carbon from Jatropha hull with microwave heating: optimization using response surface methodology. Fuel. Process. Technol. 92, 394–400 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. **e, Q.: Study on Control Over Coal Carbonization and Preparation of Activation Carbon. China Univ. of Mining & Tech, Xuzhou (1996)

    Google Scholar 

  19. Lyubchik, S.B., Benoit, R., Beguin, F.: Influence of chemical modification of anthracite on the porosity of the resulting activated carbons. Carbon 40, 287–294 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Bisio, C., Gatti, G., Boccaleri, E., Marchese, L., Superti, G.B., Pastore, H.O., Thommes, M.: Understanding physico-chemical properties of saponite synthetic clays. Microporous. Mesoporous. Mater. 90, 107–112 (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  21. Lastoskie, C., Gubbins, K.E., Quirke, N.: Pore size distribution analysis and net working: studies of microporous sorbents, in characterization of porous solids. Stud. Surf. Sci. Catal. 87, 51–61 (1994)

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The Authors wish to acknowledge the financial support from The petroleum Institute for giving an opportunity to work on Activated carbon for gas processing research.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chemical Engineering Department, The Petroleum Institute, P.O. Box 2533, Abu Dhabi, UAE

    K. Suresh Kumar Reddy, Ahmed Al Shoaibi & C. Srinivasakannan

Authors
  1. K. Suresh Kumar Reddy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ahmed Al Shoaibi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. C. Srinivasakannan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to C. Srinivasakannan.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Reddy, K.S.K., Al Shoaibi, A. & Srinivasakannan, C. Activated Carbon from Date Palm Seed: Process Optimization Using Response Surface Methodology. Waste Biomass Valor 3, 149–156 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-011-9104-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-011-9104-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation