Activated Carbon Produced by Carbonization and Chemical Activation of Coconut Frond for Air Batteries

Abstract

Coconut waste is an abundant biomass that not fully utilized as raw material for producing high added value materials. One of the product that can be made from coconut waste is activated carbon. Activated carbon is an amorphous carbon material with high degree of porosity and an extended surface area. Activated carbon commonly used as adsorbents, catalyst support and energy storage. Activated carbon characteristic with high porosity and good conductivity will produce, activated carbon suitable as air batteries material. This research focused on the process of making activated carbon based on coconut frond by carbonization and chemical activation process. Carbonization process carried out by heating the biomass at temperature 300-650^oC in absence of oxygen. This Process is known as pyrolysis. The activation of the carbon has be taken place by using ZnCl₂, NaOH and HCl as chemical activating agent. This research investigated the effect of carbonization temperature and variation of chemical activating agent.  In this study activated carbon is used as a working electrode of air batteries.

Key words: Coconut frond, biomass, activated carbon, air batteries.