Optimizing the route for medium temperature-activated carbon derived from agro-based waste material

In this present study, activated carbon was successfully prepared from palm kernel shell (PKS) by chemical activation method using phosphoric acid (H 3 PO 4 ). The optimum conditions, the influence of process parameters such as temperature (400–00 °C), and impregnation ratio on the BET surface area and pore volume of the activated carbons (AC) were investigated. Among the variables, the impregnation ratio was found to be the most influential. Under optimum conditions, activated carbon with surface area of 1267 m 2 /g was obtained at medium temperature (500 °C), impregnation ratio of 2:1, and shorter carbonization time of 1 h. The aqueous adsorption test demonstrated that showed that the AC had a remarkable removal capacity for methylene blue.