Production and evaluation of the composites of activated carbon/ polyaniline based on date palm stone

In this study, date palm stone was chosen as the raw material for the production of activated carbon. Activated carbon from date palm stone was prepared using the chemical activation method. For this purpose, in the first stage, activated carbons were obtained from date palm stone using ZnCl2 at two different temperatures (550 and 650°C) and a saturation ratio of 1:1. At this stage, the activated carbons produced were characterized and the activated carbon with the highest surface area was determined. In the second stage of the studies, AC/PANI (Activated Carbon/Polyaniline) composites were produced in different percentages (5%, 10% and 20%) using high surface area activated carbons. In the final stage of the studies, the adsorption capacity of the obtained activated carbons, Carbofuran, a pesticide, was examined. The obtained activated carbon and composites were analyzed by analysis methods such as FT-IR, SEM and BET. In adsorption studies, adsorption kinetics were evaluated. According to the results obtained, the highest carbofuran removal was 98.5% at the 120th minute; It was determined that the maximum adsorption value (qmax) of 327.6 mg/g was obtained by using AC/5% PANI composites with the Langmuir model. In this study, it was determined that activated carbons obtained from date palm stone can be used effectively in the removal of carbofuran from aqueous solutions. Additionally, it has been determined that the properties of activated carbon are strongly affected by the process conditions and production method during the activated carbon preparation stage.