Activated carbon production from black cumin pulp, walnut shell, almond kernel shell and apricot kernel shell

Black cumin pulp, walnut shells, almond kernel shells and apricot kernel shells are plant residues from agricultural crops. Millions of tonnes of such biomass rich in carbon content are increasing every year in the world. In this study, the above-mentioned plant residues were collected and activated carbons were produced from these residues to be used in cyanide gold solution. The plant residues were subjected to carbonisation and then activation processes at different times and temperatures. As a result of carbonisation processes, products containing 68.80% C for black cumin pulp, 90.76% C for walnut shell, 89.10% C for almond kernel and 92.61% C for apricot kernel were obtained. BET and SEM analyses of these materials, which have sufficient carbon content for activated carbon production, were performed. As a result of BET analyses, it was determined that the surface area of activated carbon produced from apricot kernel shell increased up to 984 m²/g. SEM analyses showed that the activated carbon produced from almond shells had optimum porosity.