Preparation and Characterization of Activated Carbon from Apple Waste by Microwave-Assisted Phosphoric Acid Activation: Application in Methylene Blue Adsorption.

Activated carbons (ACs) prepared from apple pulp and apple peel with phosphoric acid as an activation agent under microwave radiation were investigated. The effects of microwave radiation power and time on the adsorption capacities of the ACs were studied. The optimum AC preparation condition was identified by comparing the MB adsorption capacities of the produced ACs. The obtained results show that the microwave radiation power and time had strong effects on the adsorption capacities. Relative to conventional heating methods, microwave-prepared ACs showed higher BET surface areas and mesopore volumes after a shorter activation time due to differences in the type of heat transfer between these two methods. The N₂ adsorption isotherms at -196°C and SEM and FTIR results were used to characterize the properties of the prepared ACs. The N₂ adsorption results revealed BET surface areas of 1552 m²/g and 1103 m²/g for apple-peel and apple-pulp-based AC, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]