Abstract

Preparation of Mesoporous Activated Carbon from Willow Legs: Optimization Study on Removal of Methylene Blue Using Response Surface Methodology

Author(s): J. M. Salman, F. M. Abid, S. I. Khaleel and A. A. Muhammed

Mesoporous activated carbon was prepared from willow tree legs (WL) using physiochemical activation (potassium hydroxide treatment and carbon dioxide gasification). Based on the central composite design (CCD), two factor interaction (2 FI) and quadratic models were respectively employed to correlate the activated carbon preparation variables. The effects of the activation temperature, activation time and chemical impregnation ratios on the carbon yield, methylene blue (MB) removal were investigated. From the analysis of variance (ANOVA), the most influential factor on each experimental design response was identified. The optimum conditions for preparing activated carbon from willow legs were found to be activation temperature of 650.5oC, activation time of 1.5 h and chemical impregnation ratio of 1.65. The carbon yield was found to be 17% while the removal of methylene blue was found to be 91.46%.