Microwave steam activation, an innovative pyrolysis approach to convert waste palm shell into highly microporous activated carbon

Peter Nai Yuh Yek; Rock Keey Liew; Mohammad Shahril Osman; Chern Leing Lee; Joon Huang Chuah; Young-Kwon Park; Su Shiung Lam

doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.01.010

Microwave steam activation, an innovative pyrolysis approach to convert waste palm shell into highly microporous activated carbon

J Environ Manage. 2019 Apr 15:236:245-253. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.01.010. Epub 2019 Feb 5.

Authors

Peter Nai Yuh Yek¹, Rock Keey Liew², Mohammad Shahril Osman³, Chern Leing Lee⁴, Joon Huang Chuah⁵, Young-Kwon Park⁶, Su Shiung Lam⁷

Affiliations

¹ School of Forestry, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002, China; University College of Technology Sarawak, Department of Engineering, 96000, Sibu, Sarawak, Malaysia; Pyrolysis Technology Research Group, Eastern Corridor Renewable Energy Group (ECRE), School of Ocean Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Pyrolysis Technology Research Group, Eastern Corridor Renewable Energy Group (ECRE), School of Ocean Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia; NV Western PLT, 208B, Second Floor, Macalister Road, Georgetown, 10400 Penang, Malaysia. Electronic address: [email protected].
³ University College of Technology Sarawak, Department of Engineering, 96000, Sibu, Sarawak, Malaysia. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁴ Chemical Engineering Discipline, Monash University Malaysia, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, 47500 Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁵ VIP Research Laboratory, Department of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁶ School of Environmental Engineering, University of Seoul, Seoul 02504, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁷ School of Forestry, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002, China; Pyrolysis Technology Research Group, Eastern Corridor Renewable Energy Group (ECRE), School of Ocean Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 30735943
DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.01.010

Abstract

Microwave-steam activation (MSA), an innovative pyrolysis approach combining the use of microwave heating and steam activation, was investigated for its potential production of high grade activated carbon (AC) from waste palm shell (WPS) for methylene blue removal. MSA was performed via pyrolytic carbonization of WPS to produce biochar as the first step followed by steam activation of the biochar using microwave heating to form AC. Optimum yield and adsorption efficiency of methylene blue were obtained using response surface methodology involving several key process parameters. The resulting AC was characterized for its porous characteristics, surface morphology, proximate analysis and elemental compositions. MSA provided a high activation temperature above 500 °C with short process time of 15 min and rapid heating rate (≤150 °C/min). The results from optimization showed that one gram of AC produced from steam activation under 10 min of microwave heating at 550 °C can remove up to 38.5 mg of methylene blue. The AC showed a high and uniform surface porosity consisting high fixed carbon (73 wt%), micropore and BET surface area of 763.1 and 570.8 m²/g respectively, hence suggesting the great potential of MSA as a promising approach to produce high grade adsorbent for dye removal.

Keywords: Microwave; Palm; Pyrolysis; Response surface methodology; Steam activation; Waste.

MeSH terms

Adsorption
Charcoal*
Microwaves
Pyrolysis
Steam*

Substances

Steam
Charcoal