Development of activated carbon for carbon dioxide capture using cocoa pod waste in the tropic

Finding creative methods to reduce carbon emissions and protect the environment is necessary since the ongoing release of carbon dioxide (CO₂) into the atmosphere continues to represent a major environmental challenge, particularly to aquatic and human life. Among the different de-carbonisation technologies existing for carbon emission control and climate change mitigation, Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) has been identified as highly viable for carbon sequestration, technologically ready and cost effective. This study developed Activated Carbon (AC) from cocoa pod waste by activating it with KOH and H₃PO₄. Cocoa pod waste was carbonized using an electric furnace at 632°C for one hour and 30 minutes. This was done to remove volatile matter, ash and other organic content to enrich the fixed carbon content. Adsorption experiment on the adsorption efficiency of the developed AC was then performed using two different particle sizes of 325 μm and 600 μm, respectively. The results showed that AC of size 325 μm exhibited the highest CO₂ adsorption capacity of 3.1845 mmol/g at a temperature of 26 °C and pressure of 25 psi showing the highest CO₂ adsorption capacity in 45 minutes retention time at post combustion conditions (temperatures of 26°C, 40°C and pressures of 5, 10, and 15 psi) compared to size 600 μm; the maximum CO₂ adsorption capacity was recorded at 1.5362 mmol/g for AC at 26°C and 15 psi. For KOH, the CO₂ adsorption capacity of activated carbon from a combination of cocoa pod and corn cobs that models natural composition should be investigated; cocoa pod has been shown to be more suitable as a precursor for the formulation of activated carbon for CO₂ adsorption with KOH.