Characterization of chemically activated Pili nut (Canarium ovatum) shell derived activated carbon

Date

5-2026

Adviser

Peter Tee Jay L. Alvarez

Principal

Buela, Mabel S.

Abstract

Activated carbon (AC), commonly produced from agricultural waste, has pores that grant it the ability to adsorb harmful substances, and has been utilized in various fields, such as water filtration systems. Pili nut shells have minimal usage once the kernel is removed from it; this becomes waste which is detrimental to the environment. The shells of Pili nuts have been found to have high carbon content, which is important for producing high-quality activated carbon. This study aimed to produce activated carbon using Pili nut shells via chemical activation with varying molarities of NaOH solution (0.5 M, 1 M, 5 M, 10 M). In order to accomplish this, Pili nuts were gathered, and then carbonized. The carbonized Pili nuts were then activated individually with 0.5 M, 1.0 M, 5.0 M, and 10.0 M NaOH solution and put in an activation kiln for 2 hours at 400 °C. After the activation, the Pili nut shell AC was then washed with 1:2 acetic acid solution in order to neutralize it. The produced samples were then subjected to a proximate chemical analysis, in which it was found that, although the AC activated with 0.5 M AC has the lowest yield, it had the most ideal results out of the four samples. When compared to other commercial AC, Pili nut shell AC, as well Pili nut shell biochar, stood out as a competitor due to its low ash content and high fixed carbon content. These findings suggest that Pili nut AC could be a promising competitor to other forms of biomass AC, such as rice hull and coconut shell AC, as a precursor in commercial sectors. Further potential could be seen through characterization done through more variety of tests, variables, and comparison with other variants of AC.

Language

English

Location

UP Rural High School

Document Type

Capstone

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