Activated carbon derived from cashew branches via chemical activation with a weak dibasic acid: production and characterization

  • Konan Gbangbo Rémis Laboratory of Geographical Sciences, Civil Engineering and Geosciences (LASCIG3) of the Joint Research and Innovation Unit for Engineering Sciences and Techniques (UMRI-STI) of the Institut National Polytechnique Félix HOUPHOUËT-BOIGNY (INP-HB), BP 1093 Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire
  • Dongo Koffi René Laboratory of Industrial Processes and Synthesis of the Environment and New Energies, Joint Research and Innovation Unit for Agronomic Sciences, Processes and Transformation, Institut National Polytechnique Félix HOUPHOUËT-BOIGNY (INP-HB), BP 1093 Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire
  • Ehouman Ahissan Donatien Laboratory of Thermodynamics and Physico-Chemistry of the Environment (LTPCM), UFR Applied Fundamental Sciences, Nangui Abrogoua University, Abidjan, P.O. Box 801, Abidjan 02, Côte d’Ivoire
  • Adjoumani Kouakou Rodrigue Laboratory of Thermodynamics and Physico-Chemistry of the Environment (LTPCM), UFR Applied Fundamental Sciences, Nangui Abrogoua University, Abidjan, P.O. Box 801, Abidjan 02, Côte d’Ivoire
  • Adou Kouabenan Ange Joel Rostran Laboratory of Geographical Sciences, Civil Engineering and Geosciences (LASCIG3) of the Joint Research and Innovation Unit for Engineering Sciences and Techniques (UMRI-STI) of the Institut National Polytechnique Félix HOUPHOUËT-BOIGNY (INP-HB), BP 1093 Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire
  • Yao Kouassi Benjamin Laboratory of Industrial Processes and Synthesis of the Environment and New Energies, of the Institut National Polytechnique Félix HOUPHOUËT-BOIGNY (INP-HB), BP 1093 Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire
  • Diarrassouba Aïcha Samira Laboratory of Thermodynamics and Physico-Chemistry of the Environment (LTPCM), UFR Applied Fundamental Sciences, Nangui Abrogoua University, Abidjan, P.O. Box 801, Abidjan 02, Côte d’Ivoire
  • Konaté Yacouba Laboratory for Water, Hydrosystems and Agriculture (LEHSA), 2iE - International Institute for Water and Environmental Engineering, Rue de la Science - 01 BP 594 Ouagadougou 01, Burkina Faso
DOI: https://doi.org/10.34198/ejcs.13226.10.131138
Keywords: activated carbon, cashew branch, iodine index

Abstract

The aim of this study was to produce and characterize activated carbon prepared from cashew tree branches, used as a local biomass precursor. The process involved chemical activation using 20% orthophosphoric acid (H₃PO₄). The branches were impregnated for 24 hours at a ratio of 0.172 g·mL⁻¹ (50 g of precursor for 290 mL of activating agent) and then dried. Carbonization was carried out at 550 °C for 3 hours and 47 minutes, yielding an average carbonization rate of 35.36 ± 0.014%. Characterization based on the iodine index — a key test for assessing microporosity — revealed excellent performance. The highest iodine index value reached 913.68 mg/g, well above the 500 mg/g threshold considered indicative of good microporosity. These results confirm the effectiveness of chemical activation in creating and enlarging pores and demonstrate that this activated carbon derived from plant biomass can serve as a cost-effective alternative for various purification, separation, and catalytic processes.

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Published
2026-02-26
How to Cite
Konan Gbangbo Rémis, Dongo Koffi René, Ehouman Ahissan Donatien, Adjoumani Kouakou Rodrigue, Adou Kouabenan Ange Joel Rostran, Yao Kouassi Benjamin, Diarrassouba Aïcha Samira, & Konaté Yacouba. (2026). Activated carbon derived from cashew branches via chemical activation with a weak dibasic acid: production and characterization. Earthline Journal of Chemical Sciences, 13(2), 131-138. https://doi.org/10.34198/ejcs.13226.10.131138
Issue
Vol 13 No 2 (2026): May Issue - in Progress
Section
Articles


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