Preparation of Activated Carbon from Bagasse by Microwave-Assisted Phosphoric Acid Activation

This research focuses on the utilization of bagasse as activated carbon (AC) under microwave-assisted phosphoric acid activation. The AC was activated using various frequencies of microwave energy combined with phosphoric acid before the carbonization process. Results indicated that the AC obtained from bagasse under microwave-assisted phosphoric acid had improved properties, i.e. fixed carbon, surface area, and iodine adsorption capacity. However, the loss of AC properties could be attributed to microwave energy exceeding a limit of 800 W. The optimum activated condition in this research was the use of microwave energy 500 W assisted phosphoric acid, which had fixed carbon, surface area, and iodine adsorption capacity at 88.34 ± 0.67 %, 781 m2/g, and 852 ± 6.0 mg/g, respectively. HIGHLIGHTS Microwave energy and phosphoric acid is applied to pretreat bagasse Bagasse pretreatment by microwave-assisted H3PO4 enhances the properties of AC Optimum condition is pretreatment by phosphoric acid and microwave energy at 500 W GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT