CHARACTERIZATION OF CHARS PYROLYZED FROM OIL PALM STONES FOR THE PREPARATION OF ACTIVATED CARBONS

Chars pyrolyzed from oil palm stones, an abundant palm-oil mill solid waste, for the preparation of activated carbons were characterized in this paper. An ultra-pycnometer and a mercury intrusion porosimeter we re used to measure the solid and apparent densities of the samples, re spectively and a thermogravimetric analyzer was used for proximate ana lysis. The effects of pyrolysis temperature and retention time on the char yield and BET surface area of the chars were investigated. The op timum condition for pyrolysis was found to be at a pyrolysis temperatu re of 800 degrees C for a retention time of 3 h. The SEM micrographs o f the char surfaces verified the presence of porosity. The experimenta l results showed that it was feasible to prepare chars with sufficient densities and relatively high porosities from oil palm stones for the further preparation of activated carbons. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B .V. All rights reserved.