Article: Optimisation of activated carbon production from date pits Journal: International Journal of Environmental Engineering (IJEE) 2013 Vol.5 No.3 pp.325 - 338 Abstract: This study investigates the optimal process conditions for activated carbon production from local date palm pits using response surface methodology (RSM). Box Behnken statistical technique was used to design the production process in order to determine the influence of activation temperature (300°C to 700°C), % H3PO4 (30% to 70%) and activation time (1 to 3 hours) on the BET surface area. Second-order model developed via regression analysis to describe the BET surface area response was found to be appropriate in predicting the responses within the experimental region to a considerable extent. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed that the influence of the independent variables on the BET surface area is in the order: activation temperature > % H3PO4 > activation time with only temperature and % H3PO4 possessing moderate interaction. The maximum BET surface area from RSM optimisation was estimated to be 1,337.54.2 m²%g achievable at optimum conditions of 54% H3PO4 and 547°C carbonisation temperature at an activation time of 2.067 hours. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Optimisation of activated carbon production from date pits

Authors: Mohammed Hussein Essa; Muhammad A. Al-Zahrani; Suresh Nesaratnam

Addresses: Department of Civil Engineering, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, KFUPM Box 5058, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia ' Department of Civil Engineering, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, KFUPM Box 5058, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia ' Department of Design, Development, Environment and Materials, Faculty of Mathematics, Computing and Technology, The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA, UK

Abstract: This study investigates the optimal process conditions for activated carbon production from local date palm pits using response surface methodology (RSM). Box Behnken statistical technique was used to design the production process in order to determine the influence of activation temperature (300°C to 700°C), % H₃PO₄ (30% to 70%) and activation time (1 to 3 hours) on the BET surface area. Second-order model developed via regression analysis to describe the BET surface area response was found to be appropriate in predicting the responses within the experimental region to a considerable extent. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed that the influence of the independent variables on the BET surface area is in the order: activation temperature > % H₃PO₄ > activation time with only temperature and % H₃PO₄ possessing moderate interaction. The maximum BET surface area from RSM optimisation was estimated to be 1,337.54.2 m²%g achievable at optimum conditions of 54% H₃PO₄ and 547°C carbonisation temperature at an activation time of 2.067 hours.

Keywords: activated carbon; response surface methodology; RSM; surface area; date pits; date palms; ANOVA; optimisation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEE.2013.054708

International Journal of Environmental Engineering, 2013 Vol.5 No.3, pp.325 - 338

Received: 18 Feb 2009
Accepted: 09 Aug 2009
Published online: 07 Nov 2013 *

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Title: Optimisation of activated carbon production from date pits

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