The effect of ultrasonic pre-treatment parameters on preparation of activated carbon from coconut shell

This study investigates the production of activated carbon from coconut shell biomass using ultrasonic pre-treatment parameters such as phosphoric acid activation ratio and sonication time. The work evaluates how these conditions influence key physicochemical properties, including moisture content, ash content, bulk density and iodine number. Results show notable improvements in pore development and adsorption characteristics after activation, reflected by increased iodine value and reduced bulk density. UV-Vis analysis demonstrated enhanced methylene blue removal, with the activated carbon achieving a higher adsorption capacity compared to raw coconut shell. AAS analysis further confirmed reductions in residual copper content after activation, indicating a cleaner carbon surface suitable for adsorption applications. Finally, the findings highlight coconut shell as an effective precursor for activated carbon and demonstrate that the ultrasonic pre-treatment parameters can significantly improve structural and adsorption performance, supporting its potential use in environmental remediation.