Production of activated carbon from almond shells bymicrowave method, modification with heteroatoms andheavy metal removal

In this study, the carbonization of the almond shells selected as raw materials using KOH chemical substance by microwave method and the doping of phosphorus, oxygen, nitrogen and sulfur atoms by hydrothermal method were carried out. In the study, granulated almond shells were kept in KOH solutions at certain ratios (0.5-1, 0.8-1, 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 1-4) for 12, 24, and 48 hours. and then after these shells were filtered and dried, carbonization process was carried out by applying 50, 100, 200, 250, 500, 750 and 1000 W microwave power activation process. The obtained activated carbon was synthesized by hydrothermal method at 80 oC with the addition of H2SO4, H3PO4 and HNO3 and new adsorbents were added by adding sulfur, phosphorus, nitrogen and oxygen heteroatoms, respectively. The obtained adsorbents were used for the removal of Cd(II) and Pb(II) heavy metals from wastewater. SEM-EDS, TG-DTA, BET and FTIR analyzes were performed for the characterization of the obtained doped activated carbons.