Development of biomass activated carbon using full factorial design for the removal of methyl orange from aqueous solution

In this work, different factors which interfere in the preparation of activated carbon from Brachychiton populneus by chemical activation were studied in order to determine the optimal conditions used in full factorial 2(3) experimental design. The factors and levels included are activation temperature ( 600 degrees C and 800 degrees C), activation time (60 and 90 min) and type of activating agent (NaOH and FeCl3). The yield of activated carbon, total volume of the pores of activated carbon and the methyl orange adsorption were chosen as a measure of the optimization. The samples were characterized by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and pH(pzc), surface functions based on Boehm method. The results reveal that the most influential factors on the yield and the methyl orange adsorption are activation temperature, activation time and type of activating agent and the presence of a significant interaction between activation temperature and activation time in both cases. The optimum conditions to prepare activated carbons were obtained using 800 degrees C activation temperature, 90 min activation time, and NaOH activating agent while the maximal specific surface area was found to be 803 m(2).g(-1) and the removal of methyl orange was found to be 95%. This work showed that Brachychiton populneus shells are a good precursor for the production of activated carbon, by chemical activation, with high performance to be used in water treatment applications.