Skip to main content
ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Albany, California » Western Regional Research Center » Bioproducts Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #328323
Research Project: Bioproducts from Agricultural Feedstocks

Location: Bioproducts Research

Title: Activated carbons prepared by physical activation from different pretreatments of amazon piassava fibers

Author
item CASTRO, JONNYS - Universidade Federal De Lavras
item NOBRE, JOAO RODRIGO - Universidade Federal De Lavras
item BIANCHI, MARIA LUCIA - Universidade Federal De Lavras
item TRUGILHO, PAULO FERNANDO - Universidade Federal De Lavras
item NAPOLI, ALFREDO - Cirad, France
item Chiou, Bor-Sen
item Williams, Tina
item Wood, Delilah - De
item Avena-Bustillos, Roberto
item Orts, William
item TONOLI, GUSTAVO H. - Universidade Federal De Lavras

Submitted to: Journal of Natural Fibers
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/1/2018
Publication Date: 2/28/2018
Citation: Castro, J.P., Nobre, J.C., Bianchi, M., Trugilho, P., Napoli, A., Chiou, B., Williams, T.G., Wood, D.F., Avena Bustillos, R.D., Orts, W.J., Tonoli, G.D. 2018. Activated carbons prepared by physical activation from different pretreatments of amazon piassava fibers. Journal of Natural Fibers. 16(7):961-976. https://doi.org/10.1080/15440478.2018.1442280.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/15440478.2018.1442280

Interpretive Summary: Activated carbon was produced using palm tree waste from Brazil. The fibers were pre-treated and then converted into activated carbon. The activated carbon was highly porous with many nano and micropores, leading to a large surface area. The pre-treated fibers adsorbed more dye than untreated fibers so they could be used for removing dyes from waste water.

Technical Abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the properties of activated carbons (ACs) produced from different pre-treated piassava (Leopoldina piassaba) fibers found in the Amazon. The ACs were produced by physical activation using CO2 at 800°C of piassava particles in natura, and of fibers that experienced different pre-treatments (mercerization, corona discharge and removal of extractives) . Microstructural, thermal and physical properties of these samples were evaluated. The activated carbon had higher reactivity with moisture, lower crystallinity and higher thermal stability than the raw sample. SEM images showed the formation of nanoscale pores after the activation treatment of the charcoal. DSC was effective in detecting moisture adsorption and heat of dehydration. ACs from Amazon piassava fibers were a potential adsorbent alternative for the removal of dyes from wastewater. The present study contributed important information about the production and characterization of ACs from piassava for comparison to AC from other biomass sources.