Abstracts Book - IMRC 2018

• SF5-O043
EVALUATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF ACTIVATED
CARBONS OBTAINED FROM AGROINDUSTRIAL WASTE
Irma Robles 1 , Luis A. Godínez 1
1 Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo Tecnológico en Electroquímica, Electrochemistry, Mexico.
Mexico produces millions of tons of organic residues obtained agroindustry that
most of the time are wasted. Depending on the residue, peels represent until 50%
weight. The composition of peels depends on the source and on the transformation
process, but stand out similar compounds as organic matter, lignin, cellulose, and
hemicellulose; for this reason, those residues are adequate as activated carbon
precursors for new material development.This study focused on the preparation,
evaluation, and characterization of activated carbons obtained orange peel (OP)
and coffee ground waste (CG). For this purpose, a pre-activation in an H3PO4
solution was done, the carbonization process was carried out in a tubular furnace
Mini-Mite (Thermo Scientific) at 500°C. Obtained activated carbons were
characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-Ray
Spectroscopy (EDS) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD). Methyl orange (C14H14N3NaO3S) was
used to determine sorption capacity of sorbent materials. Physicochemical
properties were compared with the precursor of those activated carbons as POP,
and PCG, for orange peel and coffee ground waste respectively; and also were
compared to vegetal (V) and lignitic (L) commercial activated carbons obtained
Clarimex. EDS results indicated a loss of 43-50% of carbon element, associated to
the pre-activation process, and to the loss of volatile compounds in the
carbonization process. SEM micrographs revealed morphology changes on
activated carbons compared to precursors, associated with activation and
carbonization processes, a rougher surface was observed on activated carbons,
associated with the formation of newly available sorption sites. XRD showed signals
modification after carbonization process. Sorption capacities resulted as follows: V
(2352.01 mg/g) > PO (2342.91 mg/g) > CG (292.9 mg/g) > L (285.5 mg/g) > POP (33.78
mg/g) > PCG (17.94 mg/g). Physicochemical characterization indicates good quality
activated carbons are obtained. The physicochemical modification after
carbonization process improves the nature of the material and makes them suitable
for different purposes, as well as water treatment, gas depollution, substrate
carbonaceous materials, etc.
Keywords: activated carbon, characterization, agroindustrial waste
Presenting authors email: irobles@cideteq.mx