Characterization of the adsorbate
The surface area of the activated carbon was determined using a
Surface Area Analyzer (ASAP 2020, V3.04H; Micromeritics) through
nitrogen adsorption desorption isotherm at 77K. The Brunauer
Emmet Teller (BET) model was applied to determine the surface
area and SBET (m2
/g) while pore volume and micropore volume
were determined from the Barret Joyner Halenda (BJH) and t-plot
analysis, respectively. The moisture and ash content were deter-
mined according to the methods by American Society for Testing
Material (ASTM) namely ASTM 2867, ASTM 2866 and ASTM D5373-
08, respectively.
Functional groups on the surface of the activated carbon were
identified using the Fourier Transform Infrared analysis (FTIR)
where samples of the activated carbon was grounded with KBr
(spectroscopic grade) with a ratio of 1:100 (sample: KBr) in a
mortar before pressed into a 10 mm diameter disks under 6 tonnes
of pressure prior to analysis. The analysis condition used was 16
scans at a resolution of 4 cm1 measured between 400 and
4000 cm1
. The prepared activated carbon was also determined for
its morphological characteristics using a JSM 6380 Scanning Elec-
tron Microscope (SEM) at the Materials Science Laboratory, Faculty
of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Universiti Tun
Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM). The samples were mounted onto a
SEM holder with double sided electrically conducting carbon ad-
hesive tabs, followed by coating with a 20 nm thick layer of gold
prior to viewing under the electron microscope.