Carbon percentage yield characterisation of empty fruit bunch derived activated carbon with ultrasonic treatment enhancement

A poor management of solid residues from the oil palm industry is detrimental to health and the environment. One of the most produced wastes is the empty fruit bunch (EFB). Converting EFB into a valuable product like activated carbon (AC) is a promising method for the appropriate management of waste. Thus, the present study aims to investigate the performance of AC production using EFB as a raw material in terms of carbon yield characteristics. AC was generated by first using the impregnation process of a mixture of dried EFB and Potassium Hydroxide, followed by physical activation in a tube furnace. The impacts of ultrasonic activation duration (0, 45, and 90 minutes) and activation temperature (300, 500, and 700°C) on the carbon yield properties of the AC were evaluated. The surface chemistry of activated carbon was analyzed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The FTIR result found that the detected functional groups from the aromatic group were the alkane group, -C-H, the strong hydroxyl group, O-H, the alkyl C-H stretch, and the carbon compound, C=C stretch. The percentage yield was also found to be maximum (71.02%) under the conditions of 45 minutes of ultrasonic exposure time and 500°C activation temperature.