Production and characterization of activated carbon derived from orange peel for the adsorption of methylene blue dye

Activated carbon was produced from orange peel using H2SO4 and ZnCl2 as activating agents at a temperature of 400 oC. The impregnation was done in 1:1 (wt/v). FTIR analysis of the precursor and activated carbon shows different functional groups present in the precursor and activated carbon. The FTIR spectral also shows shifts in bands and changes in wave number between the precursor and activated carbon indicating chemical transformation during activation and carbonization. SEM analysis was used to study the internal structure and pores development of the activated carbon. The methylene blue adsorption capacity of the activated carbon was determined using standard methods. Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherms were employed in determining the adsorption process and Pseudo first-order and Pseudo secondorder kinetics were employed in determining the rate of adsorption by the adsorbents.