Characterization of activated carbon prepared from Meretrix lamarckii shell and Its application in dye adsorption

Experiments were carried out by using Meretrix lamarckii (M. lamarckii) shells to produce activated carbons, for characterize the adsorbents and removal of methylene blue from aqueous solutions. In this study, the raw seashell was crushed, then undergone the carbonization and activation processes by HCI and KOH. After that, the raw seashell powder, activated carbon (KOH) and activated carbon (HCl) were used to adsorb methylene blue solution. This test was conducted to determine the adsorption capability of raw seashell powder, activated carbon (KOH) and activated carbon (HCl) in methylene blue dye solution. The characterizations were done by identifying the thermogravimetric analysis, yield, moisture content, ash content, surface morphologies and surface functional groups. Based on the results, the activated carbon (KOH) has the best adsorption, then followed by activated carbon (HCl) and raw seashell powder. Although the ash content is high, but the activated carbon (KOH) still able to adsorb up to 99.94% of l5 mg/L methylene blue solution. Then, followed by activated carbon (HCl) which can adsorb up to 99.00% and raw seashell powder which can adsorb up to 97.82%. One of the reasons that contributed to this result might due to the different surface functional groups that existed in raw seashell powder, activated carbon (KOH) and activated carbon (HCl). Since the surface functional groups existed in raw seashell powder and activated carbon (HCl) are almost the same, thus there are only slight difference in the adsorption capability of these two materials. High yield might also contribute to this result, as yield can affect the decolourizing power of activated carbon. After analyzed the data obtained, it can be concluded that activated carbon that produced from M. lamarckii shells is potential to become a good adsorbent.