Molecular Biology: Open Access

Activated Carbon Pellets Prepared from KOH Treated Pre-Carbonized Palm Leaves (Phoenix dactylifera L.): Structures and Surface Functional Groups

Abstract

Abubaker Elsheikh Abdelrahman*, Fatima Musbah Abbas and Abdul Kariem Arof

Series of activated carbon pellets were prepared from date palm leaves (Phoenix dactylifera L.) (DPL) primarily pre-carbonized at lower temperature and converted into fine grain powder to produce self-adhesive properties. The grain powder produced was chemically activated with KOH having a concentration of (0.0 - 0.09) by moles (M) converted into a pellet by applying 12 metric tons of pressure, before being carbonized at 1000oC in a nitrogen environment, using a multi-step heating profile. Wide angle X-ray diffraction (XRD) was used to characterize the crystalline structure and estimate the crystallite parameters (d₀₀₂, L_c and L_a) and amorphous contents of the activated carbon produced. The surface function groups were analyzed by FTIR transmission spectra. X-ray diffraction analysis shows that the structure of the activated carbon produced is non-graphitic. The interlayer spacing (d₀₀₂) increased linearly with increasing KOH concentrations, while stack diameter (L_a) and stack height (L_c) of the graphitic like crystal were observed to decrease with increasing KOH concentrations. The amorphous contents were decreased for AC treated with 0.1 M and 0.2 M of 49% and 48% respectively and further increased from 0.02 M to 59% amorphous. The KOH treatment process, The FTIR transmission spectrum of the carbon pellets showed the presence of some bands related to organic compounds, which were still not completely released in the AC pellets. Implies that the surface organic functional groups occurring were due to the change in surface nature caused by the KOH treatment process.