Activated Carbon Production from Jatropha Pyrolysis Biochar

The depletion of fossil fuels and growing environmental concerns highlight the need for renewable energy sources and efficient waste management. This study explores the production of activated carbon from Jatropha de-oiled cake through atmospheric pyrolysis and chemical activation, where the atmospheric pyrolysis of the de-oiled cake generates biochar, which serves as the precursor for activated carbon. The activation process using potassium hydroxide (KOH) was optimized with response surface methodology (RSM) to evaluate the effects of impregnation ratio, activation temperature, and activation time. Under optimal conditions, the process achieved a maximum activated carbon yield of 69.8% and a surface area of 285 m²/g. The activated carbon exhibited high adsorption efficiency, removing 90.3% of acetaminophen from aqueous solutions. These findings demonstrate the potential of Jatropha de-oiled cake for high-value material synthesis, contributing to renewable energy development and sustainable waste management.