INVESTIGATION OF ACTIVATED CARBON FROM RICE WASTE USING SUPERHEATED STEAM

Activated carbon is essential in many industries and applications, especially in removing odor and color in sewage treatment plants. The most common activated carbon used is generated from coconut shells, which are difficult to obtain in many countries, especially in the Middle East, as coconut trees do not grow in the environment there; therefore, it was essential to find local alternatives from the national agricultural waste. This study presents the investigation of activated carbon from rice husks using superheated steam in a rotary kiln. The effect of thermal activation on the porosity of the activated rice husks at different temperatures was investigated. Additionally, the ability to hold onto substances and the balance of how much can be held were looked at for the carbonized samples at various temperatures. According to the results, the optimal carbonization temperature for obtaining maximal adsorption capacity was 800°C. The maximum capacity reached was 298 mg/g— about three times the capacity of commercial carbon from the coconut shell. The efficiency of dye removal for the prepared carbon was about 99% compared to 86% for the commercial activated carbon. Clear scanning using an electron microscope to monitor the analysis process of developing the rice husk until it is converted to activated carbon.