Characterization of porous activated carbon prepared from arhar stalks by single step chemical activation method

Porous activated carbon was prepared from Arhar stalks, which are agricultural waste, by chemical activation method. Arhar stalk powder directly mixed with KOH in 1:2 wt ratio was used for activation at 800 degrees C for 2 h. To study the physical and chemical characteristics of arhar stalk activated carbon scanning electron microscopic, x ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, fourier-transform analysis and pore size distribution analysis were performed. Activated carbon material produced in this study has micro porous surface structure, which was confirmed from morphological studies. From N2 adsorption studies of activated carbon BET surface areas, micro pore volume and total pore volume of arhar stalk activated carbon were observed to be 304.7250 m(2)/g, 0.0882 cm(3)/g and 0.17742 cm(3)/g respectively. X-ray diffraction crystallography analysis of activated carbon showed that activated carbon material has amorphous structure. Thermal stability of activated carbon was significantly higher when compared to precursor material which was revealed from thermogravimetric analysis. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.