Modified Composite Activated Carbon Derived from Post-Consumer Plastics and Lignocellulosic Materials
Abdoul Ntieche Rahman
University of Maroua, P.O Box 55, Maroua, Cameroon and Department of Inorganic Chemistry, University of Yaoundé I, P.O Box 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon
Loura Benguellah Benoît
University of Maroua, P.O Box 55, Maroua, Cameroon
Abdelaziz Bacaoui
Department of Chemistry, University Caddy Ayyad, P.O Box 2390, Marrakech 40 000. Morocco
Ketcha Joseph Mbadcam *
Department of Inorganic Chemistry, University of Yaoundé I, P.O Box 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The composite activated carbons were produced using both lignocellulosic materials and urban waste plastics and their characteristics were investigated. The mixture of raw material was first carbonized at 600ºC in N2 atmosphere. The char obtained was then mixed with KOH (in the ratio 2:1 for KOH/char) before the activation process with steam at 850ºC. The results show that composite carbons are micro, mesoporous and have higher carbon yield compared to the carbons from both pure raw materials, which are mainly mesoporous. These results were confirmed by their high adsorption of methylene blue. BET surface area for all the samples were over the acceptable range (991.5 - 1412.9). Moreover, the average size of the pores of carbon between in the range of 1.8 – 2.3 nm. Carbon surfaces were analyzed in detail using FTIR and SEM, exhibiting hydroxyl and carboxylic functional groups on the surfaces and cavities of mesopore size.
Keywords: Lignocellulosic materials and waste plastics, impregnation, composite activated carbon, mesoporous, yield