Preparation of activated carbon from sawdust using microwave radiation

Abstract In this study, the activated carbon has been prepared from sawdust and this was done by carbonization of sawdust at temperature of 350º C for 3 hours, after that treated with KOH at various ratios ranging from (0.5:1), (1:1), (1:2), (KOH: Carbonized materials) using microwave radiation at power of (90, 180, 270, 360, 450, 540, 630, 720) watt and at period of (6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20) minutes, many tests have been conducted on of prepared activated carbon samples such as determining the activity of the samples through adsorption of iodine and methylene blue from aqueous media. The density, ash content and humidity were measured and all the properties were compared with commercial one from B.D.H.