Synthesis of activated carbon based on palm oil fruits with FTIR and XRD characterization

Threea Shafida, Iwan Gusniar, Nidya Chitraningrum, Irma Apriyani, Achmad Subhan, Hana Arisesa

Abstract


Activated carbon derived from oil palm frond biomass was successfully synthesized via chemical activation using KOH, followed by ZnO doping. This study aims to evaluate the structural and functional characteristics of the synthesized material. The synthesis process involved impregnation, drying, and carbonization under a nitrogen atmosphere. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed the formation of crystalline ZnO with a hexagonal (wurtzite) structure, indicated by diffraction peaks at 2θ ≈ 31.66°, 34.32°, and 36.14°, along with a broad peak corresponding to amorphous carbon. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis identified functional groups such as O–H, C=O/C=C, and C–O, as well as a Zn–O vibration band at approximately 484 cm-1. These findings confirm the successful formation of a composite material consisting of amorphous activated carbon integrated with crystalline ZnO, which shows potential for adsorption and catalytic applications.

Keywords


Activated carbon; FTIR; oil palm fronds; XRD; ZnO

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References


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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.31258/jkfi.23.1.59-66

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