Abstract:
Activated carbon has successfully been made from cassava peel bunches prepared via pre-carbonisation process and microwave assisted KOH, NaOH and ZnCl2 activation. Irradiation was varied with the power of 540 Watt for 20 minutes. The physical properties of the activated carbon are characterized by analyzing it’s yield, absorption capacity. The yield of activated carbon to heavy metals, microstructure and surface morphology of activated carbon. activated carbon produced was 38%, 48,8% and 31,7% for each sample KAK, KAN and KAZ. Activated carbon absorption test against the best heavy metal showed that KAZ sample was the best with the percentage of heavy metal absorption of 95.46% Pb, 69,83% of Fe and 65,38% of Cu. The results of X-ray diffraction showed carbon active has a semi-crystalline structure with the presence of peaks sloping at an angle 2θ (002) and (100) of 21,501 o and 44,938 o. Characterization of surface morphology indicates that the sample KAZ generate more pores and regularity with the content of C atoms of 82,2%. The analysis showed that the quality of the samples KAZ activated carbon is better than KAK and KAN.
