Authors:
Ratni Dewi
1
;
Harry Agusnar
2
;
Tamrin
2
and
Zul Alfian
2
Affiliations:
1
Postgraduate Chemistry Study Program, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Jl. Bioteknologi No. 1 Kampus USU, Medan, Indonesia, Chemical Engineering Department, Lhokseumawe State Polytechnic, Lhokseumawe, Indonesia, Indonesia
;
2
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Jl. Bioteknologi No. 1, Medan 20155, Indonesia, Indonesia
Keyword(s):
activated carbon, biochar, precursor, palm kernel shell, pyrolysis
Abstract:
Palm kernel shells (PKS) are a by-product of the palm oil processing industry, where the biomass has high carbon density and low ash content. In this study the preparation of biochar from palm kernel shells was carried out by the pyrolysis method. Characterization of biochar is done by using FTIR, XRD, SEM EDX, and DSC / TGA. Based on the results of measurements with FTIR, functional group stretching vibration of O-H and C-C stretching was obtained. The surface of biochar looks rough with irregular pore diameter size. From the SEM analysis, it was obtained that the pore diameter ranged from 625.3 nm - 870.9 nm, while the EDX results showed the carbon content at biochar was 84.93%. The results of the TGA / DSC analysis show that biochar loses weight due to the release of water during heating and in the carbon decomposition phase. From the results of the characterization, it can be concluded that biochar derived from the results of the pyrolysis process with the raw material of palm ke
rnal shell is very good to be used as an activated carbon precursor.
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