Preparation and characterization of activated carbon from water hyacinth (Eichornia Crassipes) and water spinach (Ipomoea Aquatica)

Abstract

Water hyacinth and water spinach were used as novel precursor materials for the production of powdered activated carbons. They were activated chemically with H₃PO₄, KOH, H₂O₂ pyrolyzed at 450⁰C and characterized in terms of pH, density, surface area, iodine number, porosity, ash content and moisture content. The surface area (m²/g) for the activated carbon samples; WSAP (1069), WHAP (1061), WSAA (1074), WHAA (1060) and WSBA (1009) were high and lied within the range of commercial grades (800-1500). The statistical t-Test analysis was used to determine if there was any significant difference between the surface characteristics of the activated carbons from the water weeds and commercial activated carbon (CAC) using a formulated null hypothesis at 95% confidence level. The study shows that there is no significant difference between the mean values of pH, porosity and density with those of CAC.

Keywords: Preparation, Characterization, Activated carbon, Water hyacinth, Water spinach