Geographical Disparities in Pyrolysis-Induced Porosity of Activated Carbon from Cocos nucifera in Nigeria: A Comparative Analysis Across Political Regions

Isa I Ajibade; N C Maduka

Authors

Isa I Ajibade Department of Physics, Federal University Gusau, Nigeria https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1586-666X
N C Maduka Department of Physics, Federal University Gusau, Nigeria https://orcid.org/0009-0007-8831-2576

Keywords:

Biomass, chemical pulverization, energy density, lignin, polymers

Abstract

Study’s Excerpt/Novelty

This study innovatively explores the potential of African tall Cocos nucifera (CN) as a biomass source for pyrolysis, aiming to meet the increasing demand for high-power energy sources driven by portable electronic devices and hybrid electric cars.
By subjecting CN samples from Nigeria's geopolitical zones to pyrolysis and sulfuric acid washing, the study elucidates the molecular, physical, morphological, and porosity properties of the resulting activated carbon, highlighting the significant role of moisture content, derived from Relative Humidity (RH), in enhancing the mechanical strength of activated carbon for efficient energy storage systems.

Full Abstract

There is an urgent and growing need for high-power energy sources due to the quick growth of portable electronic devices and hybrid electric cars. It is necessary to reevaluate biomass pyrolysis's ability to slow climate change. In the current work, African tall Cocos nucifera (CN) from Nigeria's three geopolitical zones is chemically ground and pyrolyzed. The ground samples were washed with sulfuric acid to destroy the resistant lignin and the polymers with different activation temperatures (650–850°C) in the LT furnace. Through the use of Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), RAMAN, and Field Emission Scanned Electromagnetic Microscopy (FESEM), and Brunauer–Emmett– Teller (BET), the molecular, physical, morphological, and porosimetry tests of the produced activated carbon were analysed. We found out that the surface area of samples with Relative Humidity (RH) within the range (of 65-85)% increases with increasing pyrolysis temperature, while those with lower (RH) have the highest surface area at 750℃. This implies that moisture content, a derivative of (RH), plays a significant role in the pyrolysis process, thereby aiding the mechanical strength of activated carbon for onward use in energy storage systems.

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Geographical Disparities in Pyrolysis-Induced Porosity of Activated Carbon from Cocos nucifera in Nigeria: A Comparative Analysis Across Political Regions

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