Micro mesoporous activated carbon from coffee husk as biomass waste for environmental applications

Abstract

Activated carbons (ACs) with a highly developed porosity have been prepared from a lignocellulosic precursor (coffee husk) for environmental pollutant adsorption. Characterization results show that these materials exhibit a high amount oxygen groups and high specific surface area with micro mesopores. From SEM results we can see the collapse of large pores at longer activation times. The ACs obtained from coffee husk waste is a promising adsorbent material, with high adsorption capacity for the methylene blue dye (MB). Thus, the use of the coffee husk for AC preparation, with porosity development, showed as a good alternative for the waste transformation. Results also showed that the adsorption of MB by the AC-1/1 was much better than commercial AC from Merck.