Biomaterials have the potential to be used as low cost ecofriendly
adsorbents because of the unused resources that are
widely available [12]. Coconut (Cocos nucifera) generates a huge
amount of solid waste, mostly in the form of fiber and shell. It has
been reported that the processing of coconut shells into granular
activated carbon of sufficient density, hardness and porosity, can
potentially provide an inexpensive and renewable adsorbent
[13,14]. Hence, the feasibility of employing activated carbon
prepared from coconut shell toward the removal of urea from
human urine was analyzed. The study attempts to: (i) enhance the
surface area of coconut shell under microwave irradiation before
carbonization; (ii) investigate the effect of contact time, initial
concentration of adsorbate and adsorbent dosage on urea
adsorption capacity; (iii) analyze the adsorption equilibrium and
kinetics; (iv) characterize the Microwave Activated Carbonized
Coconut Shell (MACCS) powder; and (v) optimize the process
variables, using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) for the
particular batch adsorption system.