Preparation and Characterization of Activated Carbon from Sesame Seed Shells by Microwave and Conventional Heating with Zinc Chloride Activation

The preparation of activated carbon from sesame shells as raw precursor was investigated in the study by sequentially applying microwave and conventional heating methods assisted by zinc chloride activation. The optimizisation of experimental parameters including microwave power, microwave treatment time, conventional activation time, conventional activation temperature and zinc chloride concentration ratio for the microwave and conventional heating method was performed. The characterization of the prepared activated carbon was done by thermogravimetric and differential thermal measurements, infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and specific surface area analyses. The maximum surface area of 1254 m2/g for the prepared activated carbon was obtained at a microwave power of 750 W, a microwave treatment time of 20 min, an activation time of 45 min, an activation temperature of 500°C and zinc chloride concentration ratio of 1:1. Methylene blue and iodine adsorption capacities for the prepared activated carbon were 103 and 1199 mg/g, respectively.