Metal Chloride-Activated Empty Fruit-Bunch Carbons for Rhodamine B Removal

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the adsorptive ability of activated carbons derived from empty boil palm fruitbunch carbons through metal-chloride activation. The derived activated carbons were characterized in terms of yield, pH, surface functional groups, and specific surface area. Rhodamine B dye was used as a pollutant probe to evaluate the performance of activated carbons. Results show that empty, ZnCl2-activated fruit-bunch carbon exhibits a higher surface area of 866 m2 g-1 and a Rhodamine B removal yield of 105 mg g-1. Activation at the same temperature of 600 ºC using the recovered FeCl2 yields an activated carbon with nearly twice the surface area compared to the fresh one. A direct correlation was obtained between the roles of the specific surface area and removal of Rhodamine B. Empty fruit-bunch carbon is a promising adsorbent precursor for colour removal from water.