This document discusses the production of activated carbon from natural sources. It begins with an introduction and overview of activated carbon and its properties and applications. It then describes the key steps in production which include carbonization at 250-700°C to produce char, followed by activation at higher temperatures of 900-1100°C using either steam or chemical activation methods. The document provides details on factors that affect the quality of activated carbon produced, such as activation time and temperature. It concludes with a case study on producing activated carbon from coconut shell, palm kernel shell, and maize husk using charring followed by chemical activation with phosphoric acid.

1. Production of Activated Carbon from
Natural Sources
Guided by,
Dr. SANDIP GANGIL
Principal Scientist
ICAR-CIAE, Bhopal
Presented by,
Parmanand Sahu
Roll No: 11404
Farm Power and Equipment
ICAR-Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Bhopal

2. Introduction
What is Activated Carbon
Applications of AC
Key Properties of Activated Carbon
Adsorption
Types of Activated Carbon
Production of Activated Carbon
Case study
Conclusions

3. Biomass
specifications
Quality
Char
Process
parameters
Qchar = f(p, T, t, PS, S, E)
Where;
p = Proximate composition
PS = Physical properties
S = System design
T = Temperature
t = Time
E = Pyrolysis environment
Introduction

4.  Activated carbon is a carbonaceous, highly
porous adsorptive medium that has a
complex structure composed primarily of
carbon atoms.
 Manufactured from coconut shell, hard and
soft wood, lignite coal, bituminous coal,
olive pits and various carbonaceous
specialty materials.
What is Activated Carbon?

5. Application of Activated Carbon

6.  Surface Area - The surface area of activated carbon is
impressive, 500 to 1500 m2 /g or even more.
 Total Pore Volume - Refers to all pore spaces inside a particle
of activated carbon. It is expressed in millilitres per gram
(ml/g), volume in relation to weight.
 Pore Radius - The mean (average) pore radius, often measured
in angstroms.
Pore Volume Distribution - Micropores r < 1nm
Mesopores r 1-25nm
Macropores r > 25nm
nm = nanometer
Key Properties of AC

7.  Adsorption is the attachment or adhesion of atoms,
ions and molecules (adsorbates) from a gaseous,
liquid or solution medium onto the surface of an
adsorbent – activated carbon.
 Typically 1 m3 of Activated Carbon with 0.3 m3 of
internal pores can adsorb 30 m3or more of a gas,
even if present in low concentrations in a carrier.
Source: Anonymous, 2017
(haycarb.com)
Adsorption

8. Granular Activated carbon (GAC):
 Irregular shaped
 Sizes: 0.2 - 5 mm
 Harder and longer lasting
 Used in both liquid and gas phase
applications
Types of Activated Carbon

9. Powdered Activated Carbon (PAC):
 Particle size 5 to 150 Å
 Coarser and finer
 Used mainly for liquid-phase
adsorption
Extruded carbon:
 Cylindrical pellets with diameter
ranging from 1mm to 5mm
 Hard and suitable for heavy duty
 Used mainly for gas-phase adsorption

10. Production of Activated Carbon
Junaid et al. 2019

11. 1. Carbonization Process (250◦c -700◦c)
2. Activation Process (900◦c -1100◦c)
Used to activate both agricultural waste and coal based
carbons
Yeong et al. 2020
Schematic of the preparation of steam-activated hard carbon materials
Steam Activation

12.  Used sawdust, wood or peat raw material
 For phosphoric acid the ratio is usually between
1:0.5 and 1:4
 Better quality product
Raw material
+
Activating agent
Carbonization
(400◦c -500◦c)
Micro porous
activated carbonDrying
Chemical Activation

13. Carbonization
Washing and drying
Agricultural waste Impregnation with
reacting agent -1
Impregnation with
reacting agent -2
Activation
Washing and drying Activated carbon
Applications
FLOW CHART OF CHEMICAL ACTIVATION

14.  Activation Time
 Effect of Impregnation Ratio
 Final Activation Temperature
Factors affecting the quality of AC

15. A, B and C, following thermal treatment at 350 ◦C, 500 ◦C and
600 ◦C, respectively
Temperature Effect

16.  Washing and Milling
 Activation Interaction and Temperature
 Tar Deposition
 Proximate analysis of raw material
Production Process Challenges

17.  Charring Process :-
 Raw material: Coconut shell, maize husk and
palm kernel shell
 Carbonization Temperature: 600°C and 800 °C
 Heating Time : 55 minutes

18. Activation Process :-
o Activating Agent: Phosphoric acid (H3PO4)
Potassium hydroxide (KOH)
o Soaked in H3PO4 for 24 hours and Drying at
170c for 1-2 hours
o Activation temperatures: 600 °C, 700 °C and
800°C
o Activation Time: 2 hours
o The prepared carbon was washed thoroughly
with distilled water to remove residual
chemicals and dried at 110 °C for 24 hours.

19. Characterization
Biomass Iodine value
mg/g
Surface Area
(BET) m2/g
Total pore
volume
cm3/g
Coconut
shell
672.79 1120 1.23
Palm kernel
shell
257.02 1305 1.17
Maize husk 128.512 806 0.68

20. Higher iodine value shows the activation level
Surface area and total pore volume also shows
the activation level, but it is not necessary to
occurs all characteristics higher in a single
biomass .
Activation Temperature and time varies with
raw material used.
Conclusions

21. Thank You 21