Optimization of activated carbon preparation from spent mushroom farming waste (SMFW) via box–behnken design of response surface methodology; [Penyediaan secara optimum arang teraktif daripada sisa tanaman cendawan terpakai (SMFW) melalui reka bentuk box-behnken dari kaedah gerak balas permukaan]

• Published in: Malaysian Journal of Analytical Sciences
• Main Author: Md-Desa N.-S.; Ghani Z.A.; Abdul-Talib S.; Tay C.-C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Malaysian Society of Analytical Sciences 2016
• Online Access: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84977111854&doi=10.17576%2fmjas-2016-2003-01&partnerID=40&md5=37eab5170a9267f428c0b4e259ea6c77

This study focuses on activated carbon preparation from spent mushroom farming waste (SMFW) via chemical activation using Box-Behnken design (BBD) of Response Surface Methodology (RSM). Potassium hydroxide (KOH) functions as activating reagent and it plays an important role in enhancing the activated carbon porosity. Three input parameters and two responses were evaluated via this software generated experimental design. The effects of three preparation parameters of impregnation ratio, activation time and activation temperature as well as two responses of carbon yield and iodine number were investigated. The optimum conditions for preparing activated carbon from SMFW was found at SMFW: KOH impregnation ratio of 0.25, activation time of 30 min and activation temperature of 400°C which resulted in 28.23 % of carbon yield and 314.14 mg/g of iodine number with desirability of 0.994. The predicted results were well corresponded with experimental results. This study is important in economical large scale SMFW activated carbon preparation for application study of adsorption process for metal treatment in wastewater with minimum chemical and energy input. © 2016, Malaysian Society of Analytical Sciences. All rights reserved.