Estimating the Product Quantity and Particle Size of Char and Activated Carbon Derived from Palm Kernel Shells – A Practical Approach

In this study, activated carbons were prepared from palm kernel shells by physical activation. The methodology of experimental design was used to optimise the preparation conditions. While varying the particle size of the precursor palm kernel shells, carbonisation was done for about one hour to yield char. Activated carbon was prepared from the product char at a steam flow rate of 0.06 mol/h/g char and at a temperature of about 900°C for five hours. The empirical results were investigated to estimate the yield and particle size distribution of char and activated carbon produced from the palm kernel shells. Based on the yield and particle size analysis, a model was generated to predict product particle size and quantity in the production of activated carbon, thereby effectively utilising available raw materials and reducing preparation costs. In gold adsorption process, activated carbon of + 2.00 mm is mainly used to recover dissolved gold complexes from solutions. From data analysis and the model generated in this study, a relatively high composition of activated carbon with particle size + 2.00 mm was produced by utilising palm kernel shells precursor with particle size - 6.70 mm + 5.60 mm for carbonisation and char particle size –3.35 mm +2.80 mm for activation.