Preparation and characterization of activated carbon from waste ramulus mori

► Ammonium phosphate dibasic was selected as activation agent. ► Higher BET and Langmuir specific surface area of 1062.44m2/g and 1603.44m2/g. ► Adsorption capacity for methylene blue of 314.1mg/g. ► Adsorption capacity for iodine of 847.21mg/g. Ramulus mori was used as a precursor to prepare activated carbon using diammonium hydrogen phosphate as a chemical activation agent. The effect of preparation conditions on the produced activated carbon characteristics as an adsorbent was investigated. The performance of the carbon was characterized by N2 adsorption–desorption isotherms, BET equations, BJH equation, HK equation, SEM, XRD, and FTIR. The optimum conditions for carbon preparation are as follows: carbonization temperature, 400°C; carbonization time, 90min; mass ratio of activating agent to carbonide, 1:2; activation temperature, 800°C; and activation time, 120min. The adsorptive capacity of methylene blue and iodine onto the carbon under optimum conditions attains 314.1mg/g and 847.21mg/g, respectively, the yield of activated carbon attains 26.56%, and Langmuir specific surface area attains 1603.44m2/g. The pore structure of the activated carbon is mainly composed of micropore. There exists carbonyl and hydroxyl group on the activated carbon surface.