Title: Adsorption efficiency of activated carbon produced from waste rubber tyres

Authors: Pratima Jeetah; Karishma Buddynauth

Addresses: Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Mauritius, Réduit, Mauritius ' Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Mauritius, Réduit, Mauritius

Abstract: Activated carbons were prepared through the chemical activation method using waste rubber tyres. Ground tyres of particle size of 0.27 inches were impregnated with potassium hydroxide (KOH) at an impregnation ratio of 4. The KOH/tyre slurry was then carbonised in an inert atmosphere at 500-800°C for 0-2 hours. The effect of different chemical activation parameters like pyrolysis temperature and residence time on the surface area, carbon yield and ash content were investigated along with the methylene blue adsorption at a pH of 8 onto the activated carbon produced. The activation method could produce activated carbon with a surface area of 1,787 m²/g and adsorption efficiency of 83% with an ash content of 3.26% at 700°C and a residence time of 1 hour. Additionally, the carbon yield decreases while the ash content and the surface area increases with an increase in carbonisation temperature. The results also show that methylene blue adsorption onto the activated carbon produced best fitted the Langmuir isotherm.

Keywords: tyre; chemical activation; activated carbon; adsorption isotherm.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEWM.2021.118858

International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 2021 Vol.28 No.4, pp.407 - 425

Accepted: 07 Sep 2019
Published online: 09 Nov 2021 *

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