Preparation of Activated Carbon from Sugarcane Bagasse

Abstract

The process of preparing activated carbon (AC) from sugarcane bagasse (SB) includes a sequence of steps aimed at transforming this agricultural residue into a material with high porosity and adsorbent properties. AC is well-known for its capacity to adsorb toxins and impurities, making it valuable in a range of applications such as water purification, air filtration, and medicinal purposes. Initially, SB is dried for 2–3 days in sunlight and then in a hot-air oven at 105°C for overnight. Afterwards, it is crushed to obtain a particle size less than 2 mm. Finally, the sample is pyrolyzed in an inert atmosphere, in a suitable condition to obtain biochar. Then, biochar is chemically activated with reagents like H3PO4, ZnCl2, KOH, NaOH, and K2CO3 with different concentrations. The sample is then washed thoroughly and dried. It is usually observed that there is a significant increase in Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area, up to about 300–500 m2 g−1. This AC with very high surface area greatly enhances removal of toxins from waste water, and so on. Several studies have reported that prepared AC from biomass (agricultural residue) offers a saving of up to 40% as compared to commercially available AC. © 2025 selection and editorial matter Ho Soon Min, Heri Septya Kusuma, and Yogesh Chandra Sharma; individual chapters, the contributors.