Preparation and characterization of activated carbon from desiccated coconut residue by potassium hydroxide

This study investigates the effect of temperature and impregnation ratio on the physicochemical properties of activated carbon prepared from desiccated coconut residue by chemical activation using potassium hydroxide. Desiccated coconut residue sample was first carbonized at three different temperatures for 1 h at 400, 500 and 600 °C, respectively. The resulting chars were impregnated with KOH at three different impregnation ratio; 1:1, 1:2 and 1:3, respectively and activated under nitrogen atmosphere for 1 h at three different temperatures based on its carbonization temperature. The BET surface area and pore volume was strongly affected by temperature in which increased in temperature caused increased in BET surface are and pore volume. The BET surface area also increased with impregnation ratio but then decreased due to pore widening of activated carbons.