Optimized Production of High-Performance Activated Biochar from Sugarcane Bagasse via Systematic Pyrolysis and Chemical Activation

The following work deals with the preparation of highly porous activated biochar from sugarcane bagasse (SB) via potassium hydroxide activation and optimization by a D-optimal design. Activation temperatures within the range of 600 to 800 °C, holding times between 60 and 180 min, and KOH impregnation ratios (WKOH/WRBC) ranging between 0.5, 1, and 2 were explored with a view to enhance properties like Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area and total pore volume of biochar while considering mean diameter as well. Optimized conditions in this study were an activation temperature of 800 °C, holding time of 120 min, and KOH impregnation ratio of 1:1. The activated biochar prepared under such conditions had a very high BET surface area, 1149 m2/g, and a total pore volume of 0.53 cm3/g. This was further characterized by thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, indicating improved microporosity with a view to application in adsorption studies. This is a sustainable work to obtain economical high-performance biochar from agricultural waste for application in adsorption and catalytic processes.