The preparation and phenol adsorption performance of KOH-activated carbon from pruned branches of <i>Prunus mume</i> (<i>Japanese apricot</i>)

Large quantities of woody pruning residues from Prunus mume (Japanese apricot) are generated annually through orchard management, yet they remain underutilized despite their renewable and lignocellulosic nature. In this study, pruned branches of Prunus mume were employed as a novel biomass precursor for the production of activated carbon via chemical activation with potassium hydroxide (KOH). The influence of impregnation ratio on the pore structure and surface area of the resulting carbons was systematically investigated. The optimal sample exhibited a high BET surface area of 2389.0 m²/g and well-developed microporosity. Phenol was selected as a model pollutant to assess adsorption performance. The branch-derived activated carbon demonstrated a maximum phenol adsorption capacity of 285.9 mg/g, which is approximately 1.7 times higher than that of a coal-based activated carbon (171.4 mg/g) and about 1.2 times higher than that of a coconut shell activated carbon (232.6 mg/g). Moreover, the material achieved adsorption equilibrium within one hour, indicating superior kinetics. These findings highlight the feasibility of converting fruit tree pruning waste into high-performance activated carbon.