Characteristics of activated carbon derived from seaweed solid waste using chemical activation.

The seaweed industries produce amount of solid waste that was discharged directly into the environment. Seaweed solid waste has high cellulose and carbon contents, therefore it can be used as a precursor of activated carbon. The method for production of activated carbon consisted of two processes, namely the carbonization process and the chemical activation process using NaOH activator. The nature of the precursors, the effect of temperature and carbonization time, and the effect of the concentration of activator on the chemical characteristics of the activated carbon product were investigated and discussed in this study. The selected carbonization temperature and time were 400°C and 600°C within 30, 60, and 120 minutes. The chemical activation process was carried out using NaOH activator and the ratio of activator mass/carbon mass was 4:1 with variations in the concentration of the activator solution applied were 20%, 40%, and 60%. Proximate analysis was carried out to determine the chemical characteristics of activated carbon, including yield content, moisture content, volatile matter content, ash content, and the calculation of fixed carbon. Variations in NaOH concentration (20%; 40%; 60%) affected the yield parameters, water content, ash content, volatile matter, and fixed carbon content. The highest yield of charcoal produced from the carbonization process at 600°C 60 minutes was 81.01%. The highest air content of 9.85% was obtained at a variation of 600°C 120 minutes with a concentration of 60% NaOH. The highest ash content of 10.25% was obtained at a variation of carbonization 600°C 60 minutes with 40% NaOH concentration. The volatile matter content of 23.11% was obtained at a variation of carbonization 400°C 60 minutes with a concentration of 60% NaOH. The highest carbon content was reached 76.91% at a variation of carbonization 400°C and 30 minutes with 20% NaOH concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]