Submit

Login Login

Register Register

Home / Journals / JRM / Online First / doi:10.32604/jrm.2025.02025-0105
Journal Menu
Special Issues
Table of Content

All issues

Online First

2025

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

Back Issues

Open Access

ARTICLE

Production of Activated Biochar from Palm Kernel Shell for Methylene Blue Removal

Sarina Sulaiman*, Muhammad Faris
Department of Chemical Engineering and Sustainability, Kulliyyah of Engineering, International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), Jalan Gombak, Kuala Lumpur, 53100, Malaysia
* Corresponding Author: Sarina Sulaiman. Email: email

Journal of Renewable Materials https://doi.org/10.32604/jrm.2025.02025-0105

Received 16 June 2025; Accepted 17 October 2025; Published online 14 November 2025

Abstract

In this study, Palm kernel shell (PKS) is utilized as a raw material to produce activated biochar as adsorbent for dye removal from wastewater, specifically methylene blue (MB) dye, by utilizing a simplified and cost-effective approach. Production of activated biochar was carried out using both a furnace and a domestic microwave oven without an inert atmosphere. Three samples of palm kernel shell (PKS) based activated biochar labeled as samples A, B and C were carbonized inside the furnace at 800°C for 1 h and then activated using the microwave-heating technique with varying heating times (0, 5, 10, and 15 min). The heating was conducted in the absence of an inert gas. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) highlighted a significant Si-O stretching vibration between 1040.5 to 692.7 cm−1, indicating the presence of key components (Silica and Alumina) in all PKS-based activated biochar samples. For wastewater treatment, activated biochar samples were tested against a 20 mg/L Methylene Blue (MB) solution, and the MB percentage removal was calculated for each run using a standard curve. Central Composite Design (CCD) experiments were conducted for optimization, with activated biochar Sample C exhibiting the highest adsorption capacity at 88.14% MB removal under specific conditions. ANOVA analysis confirmed the significance of the quadratic model, with a p-value of 0.0222 and R2 = 0.9438. In conclusion, the results demonstrated the efficiency of PKS-based activated biochar as an adsorbent for MB removal in comparison to other commercial adsorbents.

Keywords

Palm kernel shell; biochar; methylene blue dye; microwave heating; adsorption

  • 225

    View

  • 127

    Download

  • 0

    Like

Related articles
Copyright© 2025 Tech Science Press
© 1997-2025 TSP (Henderson, USA) unless otherwise stated

Share Link