Activated Carbon from Various Agricultural Wastes by H3PO4 Activation: Preparation and Characterization

Activated carbons (ACs) were prepared from various agricultural wastes, namely, lapsi seed stones, beleric seeds, peach stones, walnut shells, bamboo, and sugarcane bagasse by pyrolysis with chemical activation by phosphoric acid. As‐synthesized ACs were characterized by iodine number, methylene blue number, surface area, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X‐ray diffraction. The highest carbon yield was recorded for the AC derived from peach stones. The highest surface areas were achieved in ACs prepared from peach stones and walnut shells. All the ACs have an external surface covered with regular pores of different shapes and sizes, an amorphous nature, and similar oxygen‐containing surface functional groups. Agricultural wastes can be used as precursors for the production of activated carbon (AC). ACs were produced from six different agricultural waste materials by H3PO4‐activated pyrolysis. The ACs obtained from peach stones and walnut shells had the highest surface areas and the best adsorptive properties; thus, they could be potential low‐cost adsorbents for water and wastewater treatment.