Comparison of Various Characteristics Activated Carbon Prepared from Turmeric Industrial Waste through Different Activation Processes

Different characteristics activated carbons were prepared from turmeric industrial waste by using various carbonization and activation methodology and the surface characteristics were determined using standard analytical methods. The difference in the pore volume of activated carbons was obtained by various activating agents used during the activation processes. The surface area and pore size volumes for the different activated carbon samples were estimated by nitrogen adsorption measurements at 77 K. The morphology of the newly prepared carbon sample was studied by scanning electron microscopy, the surface functional groups were investigated by Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy techniques and the presence of graphitic structure were studied by X-Ray diffraction analysis. Physico-chemical characteristics such as bulk density, moisture content, ash content, matter soluble in water, matter soluble in acid, pH, iodine number, conductivity, porosity, pHzpc, yield percentage and surface area were investigated to chose the suitability of the carbon as adsorbent for the dye removal processes. In this study, the results clearly proves that the activated carbon prepared from turmeric industrial waste by using H2SO4 carbonization process followed by activation at 800 °C under nitrogen atmosphere chosen as the suitable adsorbent possessing highest surface area with better pore volume and iodine number for the removal of textile dyes from aqueous solution.