Production of Activated Carbon from Commiphora berryi

Activated carbon is a carbonaceous material with porous structure capable of adsorbing organic compounds contributing for the colour, odour, taste etc., in the food, pharmaceutical and allied products. For the production of activated carbon, it requires carbonaceous material and an activating agent. Activated carbon is mainly produced from the non-renewable sources like peat and coal. As these will be exhausted soon, it was attempted to produce activated carbon from the renewable raw material like Kiluvai (Commiphora berryi) which is largely available in the rural areas. Kiluvai is a highly drought resistant, easy spreading live fence shrub, growing well under all soil conditions and do not find any other use except as a fuel in rural areas of Tamil Nadu, India. The stems of Kiluvai shrub were cut, made into powder and activated carbon was produced. The Kiluvai powder mixed with 125 per cent zinc chloride and activated at 500 degree Celsius for 75 minutes after six hours reaction time was adjudged as the optimized process for the production of activated carbon. This book narrates the process optimization and technology development for production of activated carbon from Kiluvai.