The effect of K2FeO4 on various activation temperatures on the characteristics of activated carbon from vetiver root distillation waste

Abstract

In this study, the modification of the degree of graphitization of activated carbon from vetiver root distillation waste was carried out to enhance the conductivity. The synthesis of activated carbon was conducted at 2 stages, namely hydrothermal carbonization and activation. Hydrothermal carbonization of vetiver root distillation waste (VDW) was done at 225 ⁰C for 18 hours. Furthermore, the hydrochar formed was activated with K2FeO4 at a ratio of 1:4 using a tubular furnace for 1 hour. The activation temperature varied at 650 °C, 800 ⁰C and 950 °C. The activated carbon produced was a mesoporous type with the largest surface area based on the BET (Brunauer Emmett Teller) method was 535.04 m2g-1. The use of K2FeO4 activator at various activation temperatures was proven to affect the value of the degree of graphitization with the largest value of 1.41, on the AC5-950 sample. Synthesis of activated carbon using K2FeO4 activator at various activation temperatures could be an alternative method to produce graphitized activated carbon material which can later be used in electrode applications.