Preparation and characterization of activated carbon from commercially important bamboo species in north eastern India

Bamboo is a cost-effective, fast-growing renewable resource with significant potential as an alternative to traditional activated carbon precursors, particularly coconut shell-based activated carbon. We evaluated the suitability of seven bamboo species from Tripura, India, for activated carbon production and identified the most effective species for commercial applications of activated carbon. Activated carbon was produced using phosphoric acid activation and its physico-chemical, adsorption and surface properties were analyzed following ASTM standards. Among the seven species investigated, activated carbon from Bambusa tulda was found to possess significantly better properties as evidenced by its lower burn-off percentage (60.0 ± 1.65 %), moisture content (5.21 ± 0.25 %), ash content (5.81 ± 0.13 %) and volatile matter (14.0 ± 0.88 %) and the higher activated carbon yield (40.0 ± 1.65 %), pH (3.75 ± 0.13), electrical conductivity (1.12 ± 0.10 µS m⁻¹), fixed carbon content (75.9 ± 1.07 %), BET surface area (806 ± 68.23 m²/g), methylene blue adsorption number (411 ± 15.04 mg/g), iodine adsorption number (1094 ± 128.01 mg/g) and hardness (82.2 ± 1.19 %), followed by Mellocana baccifera and Bambusa polymorpha which also exhibited favourable physico-chemical and higher adsorption properties. These findings suggest that Bambusa tulda , Melocanna baccifera and Bambusa polymorpha are promising species for commercial production of activated carbon for industrial applications. • Activated carbon was produced from culms of seven bamboo species from Tripura forests using phosphoric acid activation, and its physico-chemical, adsorption, and surface properties were analyzed. • Among the seven investigated species, activated carbon from Bambusa tulda exhibited superior properties, including lower burn-off (60.02 %), moisture (5.21 %), ash (5.81 %), and volatile matter (14.04 %), along with higher yield (39.98 %), pH (3.75), conductivity (1.121 µS m⁻¹), fixed carbon (75.94 %), BET surface area (806.34 m²/g), methylene blue (410.5 mg/g), iodine adsorption (1093.82 mg/g), and hardness (82.2 %). Melocanna baccifera and Bambusa polymorpha also showed favorable properties. • This study inferred that the activated carbon from Bambusa tulda, Melocanna baccifera and Bambusa polymorpha could be recommended for commercial use in industrial applications.