CHEMICAL-ACTIVATED CARBON FROM COCONUT (Cocos nucifera) ENDOCARP WASTE AND ITS APPLICATION IN THE ADSORPTION OF β-LACTOGLOBULIN PROTEIN

The aim of this study was to investigate the use of coconut (Cocos nucifera) endocarp, an agro-industrial by-product, as a precursor in the synthesis of activated carbon. The material was used as an adsorbent for whey protein purification, using beta-plactoglobulin as the model molecule. The coconut endocarp was initially subjected to leaching in an alkaline medium. The activated carbon (AC) was prepared by the chemical activation method using ZnCl2 as the activating agent. The process yields and the physical and chemical properties of the activated carbon were determined. The effects of pH, carbon mass, time, and temperature on the adsorption performance was also investigated. The activated carbon showed a pore size distribution in the mesoporous range and a high surface area. The adsorption assays showed a best adsorption performance of the AC at pH 3.0. The pseudo second-order kinetics model set better to the experimental data of beta-lg adsorption onto AC, and the Langmuir model was more appropriate to represent the experimental data, with maximum adsorption capacity of 524.76 mg/g, evidencing the potential of the coconut endocarp waste for the production of activated carbon for whey protein purification.