Green synthesis of mesoporous carbon from kapok.

In this research, an attempt to synthesize a highly mesoporous carbon (MC) was done from Ceiba pentandra. Ceiba pentandra was prepared under carbonization and oxidation process at 500 °C at a heating rate of 5 °C min-1 for 30 min and 300 °C for 3 h respectively. The iodine number and percentage yield of the prepared MC was 1463.926 mgg−1 and 99.85% respectively. The raw material and the prepared MC were preliminary characterized by several characterization methods such as Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and CHNS/O Analyzer. FTIR analysis showed difference in IR functional groups of raw and prepared MC. Many functional groups that present in the raw material were disappeared for prepared MC due to the carbonization and oxidation process. In raw material, a strong absorption peak present at 1736.58 cm−1 indicates the presence of carbonyl group (C=O) due to existence of hemicellulose and lignin. However, the peak disappeared for the prepared MC. SEM showed no pores formation for the raw material but, enhanced porosity with an opening hole was observed for the MC. While, CHNS/O analyzer confirmed the increased in the carbon content in the prepared MC (63.84%) compared to the raw Ceiba pentandra (43.54%). This research showed a great venture in the utilization of waste biomass into quality mesoporous carbon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]