Preparation and Characterization of Biochar and Activated carbon derived from Cashew Bagasse Waste
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Abstract
Biochar and Activated carbon derived from cashew bagasse waste (CBB and CBAC), are veritable
materials produced from agro-waste. They are currently under-utilized owing to paucity of information
in their recycling methods which reduces agricultural waste from the environment. This study
investigates the use of under-utilized cashew bagasse waste in the production of biochar and activated
carbon using pyrolysis and chemical activation methods, respectively. Cashew bagasse waste was
pyrolysed at 4000C for 20mins at 100C/min. The biochar was chemically activated using 0.3M
orthophosphoric acid (H3PO4) at an impregnation ratio of 1:2.36(w/w). It was heated at 1000C to form
a paste and placed in a muffle furnace at 5000C for 30 mins. This was cooled and washed until pH was
neutral. It was oven dried at 1050C for 24 hours to a constant weight to produce CBAC
Characterization of CBB and CBAC for its pH, bulk density, and moisture content, dry matter, volatile
matter, and fixed carbon were determined. FTIR and SEM analysis on CBB and CBAC was done to
determine the functional groups and surface morphology, respectively. The Data obtained were
analyzed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA at P value < 0.05. This study, therefore, revealed
CBAC to have better characteristics than CB