Physicochemical Properties of Activated Carbon Produced from Coffee Waste and Empty Fruit Bunch by Chemical Activation under Various Catalyst and Temperatures

Vilaysit Thithai1*, Xuanjun Jin1, Joon Weon Choi1

(1Graduate School of International Agricultural Technology, Seoul National University)

Abstract: In this study, coffee waste and empty fruit bunch (EFB) were used as precursors for the preparation of activated carbon by chemical activation with KOH, ZnCl2 and H3PO4. The influence of process parameters such as the carbonization temperature and impregnation ratio (1:0, 1:1, 1:3) on the physicochemical properties of the activated carbon was investigated. The highest yields of produced activated carbon were observed at 600 °C and it was slightly decreased as the increase of carbonization temperatures. The maximum specific surface area of 3010 m2 g-1 and 2090 m2 g-1 was obtained at 800 °C for coffee activated carbon and EFB activated carbon, respectively. The results have shown that the surface area was greatly influenced by the catalyst reagent ratios and carbonization temperatures.