Humphrey L. Mudoga1*, Patrick Kuloba1, Fredrick Kengara2, James Aluha3, Chrispine Kowenje2
1 Department of Research Technology and Innovation, Kenya Industrial Research & Development Institute,
P. O. Box 30650–00100, Nairobi, Kenya
2 Chemistry Department, Maseno University, Private bag, Maseno, Kenya
3Department of Chemical & Biotechnological Engineering, Université de Sherbrooke, (Quebec), Canada, J1K 2R1.
Abstract
Activated carbons (AC) synthesized from sun dried bagasse of Chemelil Sugar Factory in Kenya were used in this study. Using molasses as a binder, ratio 1:1, the bagasse and molasses mixture was compressed into pellets in an extruder, heated to produce a char, and then activated using carbon dioxide, before finally being ground into powdered activated carbon. Carbonization was done in a retort, while the heating was done by two gas burners. A thermocouple was used to record and control the temperature, which ranged from 300 – 700oC. The carbonized material (char) was cooled and ground to powder. Sample activation was conducted in an atmosphere of carbon dioxide passing through a chrome-nickel pipe with a gas distributor mounted in a furnace of porcelain cylinder with a metal sheet having one end closed. Air and nitrogen were used to control burning and the temperature of the furnace was controlled to between 300 – 600oC. The activated carbons produced were characterized for their physical properties (bulk density, yield, surface area, and micro pore volume and pore size), chemical properties (ash, pH, conductivity, Iodine and molasses decolourisation) and compared with selected two commercial activated carbons. The results showed that carbon materials activated from bagasse for 5 h at a temperature of 600oC showed similar characteristics with the commercial activated carbons and therefore an inexpensive substitute for AC.
Keywords:
Activated Carbon, Adsorption, BET surface area, sugarcane bagasse
