Abstract
This paper reports on the effect of activating
agents such as the impregnation ratio of phosphoric acid
(1:1–1:5) at constant activation temperature on the performance
of porous activated carbon from waste residues
(maize tassel). The variation in the impregnation
ratio of the produced activated carbon (AC) from 1:1 to
1:5 enabled the preparation of a high surface area
(1,263 m2/g) and a large pore volume (1.592 cm3/g) of
AC produced from maize tassel (MT) using a convectional
chemical activating agent (phosphoric acid). Impregnation
ratios (IR) of the precursors were varied
between 1:1 and 1:5 in which it was found that the ratio
of 1:4 was optimal based on the high surface area, while
1:5 has the optimal pore volume value for the produced
activated carbon.