PRODUCTION OF ACTIVATED CARBON FROM COCONUT SHELL BY USING ZINC CHLORIDE AS AN ACTIVATING AGENT ZAINAZRIN BIN ZAINAL ABIDIN

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1 i PRODUCTION OF ACTIVATED CARBON FROM COCONUT SHELL BY USING ZINC CHLORIDE AS AN ACTIVATING AGENT ZAINAZRIN BIN ZAINAL ABIDIN A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirement for the award of the degree of Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical) Faculty of Chemical Engineering Universiti Teknologi Malaysia JANUARY 2013

2 v ABSTRACT Water pollution has becoming a major problem in our country recently. The existing of organic and inorganic substances in the water will make the water polluted. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to study the effect of activating agent in the production of activated carbon. Besides that, the objective of this study is to find out the effects of activation temperature and chemical ratio to the yield of activated carbon. We will also study the potential of activated carbon produced from coconut shell in removing chemical oxygen demand (COD) in wastewater sample. In this study, the activating agent that will be used is zinc chloride (ZnCl). The highest percentage yield of activated carbon that is produced from coconut shell is about 56.4% with an activation temperature of 573K and a chemical ratio of 3:10. This study will also prove that the activated carbon produced from coconut shell has the ability able to remove chemical oxygen demand (COD) in wastewater sample but less effective compared to commercial activated carbon. The highest COD removal percentage is about 50.7%.

3 vi ABSTRAK Pencemaran air telah menjadi salah satu masalah utama di negara kita sejak kebelakangan ini. Air akan menjadi tercemar dengan adanya bahan-bahan organik dan tidak organik terkandung di dalam air. Oleh itu, tujuan kajian ini dijalankan adalah untuk mengkaji kesan ejen pengaktifan dalam penghasilan karbon aktif. Selain itu, kajian ini juga bertujuan untuk mengkaji kesan suhu pengaktifan dan nisbah kimia terhadap penghasilan jumlah karbon aktif. Potensi karbon aktif yang dihasilkan daripada tempurung kelapa dalam mengurangkan peratusan kandungan chemical oxygen demand (COD) air sisa akan turut dikaji. Dalam kajian ini, ejen pengaktifan yang digunakan adalah zink klorida (ZnCl). Jumlah peratusan tertinggi karbon aktif yang dihasilkan daripada tempurung kelapa adalah 56.4% dengan suhu pengaktifan 573K dan nisbah kimia sebanyak 3:10. Kajian ini juga akan membuktikan bahawa karbon aktif yang dihasilkan daripada tempurung kelapa mempunyai keupayaan dalam mengurangkan peratusan kandungan chemical oxygen demand (COD) air sisa tetapi kurang berkesan jika dibandingkan dengan karbon aktif komersil. Peratusan penurunan kandungan chemical oxygen demand (COD) tertinggi adalah 50.7%.

4 vii TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER TITLE PAGE DECLARATION DEDICATION ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ABSTRACT ABSTRAK TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES LIST OF FIGURES LIST OF SYMBOLS LIST OF APPENDICES ii iii iv v vi vii x xi xii xiii 1 INTRODUCTION Background of Study Problem Statement Objective of Study Scope of Study 5 2 LITERATURE REVIEW Introduction Types of Adsorption Physical Adsorption Chemical Adsorption Ion Exchange Adsorption 9

5 viii 2.3 Factors Influencing the Adsorption Rate Surface Area ph Value Temperature Characteristic of Adsorbent Rate of Soaking Activated Agent Activated Carbon Characteristic Carbonization Activated Carbon Production Process Activation by Oxidation Chemical Activation Zinc Chloride as Activator Phosphoric Acid as Activator 15 3 METHODOLOGY Chemicals Instrumentation Raw Material Collection Activated Carbon Preparation using Different Activating Agent to Coconut Shell Ratio AC1 Sample Preparation AC2 Sample Preparation AC3 Sample Preparation AC4 Sample Preparation Effect of Carbonization Temperature on Carbon Yield AC8 Sample Preparation AC9 Sample Preparation AC10 Sample Preparation AC11 Sample Preparation Characterization of Product Activated Carbon Yield COD Removal Efficiency 25

6 ix 4 RESULT AND DISCUSSION Effluent Physical and Chemical Properties ph Effect of Concentration of Activating Agent on Average Yield of Activated Carbon Effect of Temperature on Average Yield of Activated Carbon Effect of Chemical Ratio on Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) Removal Efficiency 33 5 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS Conclusion Recommendation 37 REFERENCES 38 Appendices A - C 41-43

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