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Microwave Pyrolysis with Physical Activation: A Promising Approach to
Convert Orange Peel into Activated Carbon for Use in Congo Red Dye
Adsorption
Ho Yee Ling
Supervisor: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lam Su Shiung
Bachelor of Technology (Environment)
School of Ocean Engineering
Universiti Malaysia Terengganu
Orange peel represents a bio-resource to be converted into useful materials instead
of being dumped in landfill sites. Microwave pyrolysis with physical activation was
examined to transform orange peel into activated carbon (AC) for use in the adsorption
of congo red dye. The orange peel was first carbonized via microwave pyrolysis to
produce biochar, then physically-activated into AC using steam. The results showed
that AC with the highest yield (75.6 wt%) and adsorption efficiency (18 mg of dye/g
of AC) were obtained by performing steam activation at 500 o C. The AC was detected
with a highly porous structure containing mainly mesopores, high BET surface area
(1360 m 2 /g) and pore volume (2.1 cm 3 /g), thus exhibiting high adsorption capacity
for dye molecule to be adsorbed onto. The production of AC with improved properties
suggest the great potential of this method as an alternative for the treatment and
recovery of orange peel.
32 | U M T U N D E R G R A D U A T E R E S E A R C H D A Y 2019