Preparation and characterization of high surface area activated carbon from Fox nut (Euryale ferox) shell by chemical activation with H3PO4

Activated carbons were prepared from Fox nutshell by chemical activation with H3PO4 in N-2 atmosphere and their characteristics were studied. The effects of activation temperature and impregnation ratio were examined. N-2 adsorption isotherms characterized the surface area, total pore volume, micropore volume and pore size distribution of activated carbons. Activated carbon was produced at 700 degrees C with a 1.5 impregnation ratio and one hour of activation time has found 2636 m(2)/g and 1.53 cm(3)/g of highest BET surface area and total pore volume, respectively. The result of Fourier-infrared spectroscopy analysis of the prepared activated carbon confirmed that the carbon has abundant functional groups on the surface. Field emission scanning electron micrographs of the prepared activated carbon showed that a porous structure formed during activation. (C) 2016 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).