Document Type : Regular Article

Authors

• Ammar Mukhlif Jasim ¹
• Nathera Abass Ali ²

¹ Department of Physics, College of Science, University of Baghdad – Iraq Department of Applied Sciences, University of Technology – Iraq

² Department of Physics, College of Science, University of Baghdad – Iraq

Abstract

This research investigates the synthesis of activated carbon (AC) from potato peel waste (PPW). AC was synthesized under atmospheric conditions via two activation methods: chemical activation and carbon dioxide physical activation. The effects of the drying period on precursor preparation and activation methods were investigated. The specific surface area and pore volume of the ACs were estimated using the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller method. The AC from physical activation had a surface area of 1210 m²/g and a pore volume of 0.37 cm³/g, while chemical activation yielded AC with similar surface area but lower pore volume (0.34 cm³/g). The main aim is to produce activated carbon from natural materials and characterize the elemental analysis, surface area, and morphology of ACs from PPW using potassium hydroxide (AC-PPK) and carbon dioxide (AC-PPC) as activating agents. X-ray diffraction showed crystallinity degrees of 35.03% for AC-PPK and 35.46% for AC-PPC. Both methods resulted in AC with low crystallinity, indicating an amorphous structure. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) images of AC revealed surface nanotips with maximum heights of 1,396 nm and 778 nm. Scanning electron microscopy showed the external surfaces full of cavities and highly irregular due to activation. Activated carbon from PPW is a low-cost and effective adsorbent compared to other sources.

Keywords

• KOH
• Carbon dioxide
• Active Carbon

Main Subjects

• Applied Physics