Synthesis and Characterization of Activated Rice Husk Adsorbent for Carbon Capture

Climate change driven by greenhouse gas emissions is one of the greatest challenges facing the world today. Carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) technologies have emerged as a critical strategy to mitigate carbon dioxide (CO2,) emissions and support the transition to a low carbon economy. This study aims at the synthesis and characterization of activated rice husk adsorbent for carbon capture. The objectives of the study is to synthesize activated carbon from rice husk for CO2 capture using phosphoric acid as an activating agent, carry out characterization such as Brauauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Physiochemical characterization on the activated carbon produced, test for adsorption efficiency and capacity of the activated carbon produced, interpret the CO2 Adsorption results and determine the adsorption capacity of activated carbon produced from rice husk at a carbonization temperature of 700oC. After the adsorption experiment, the adsorption capacity of the activated carbon from rice husk at 26oC was 1.1454mmol/g, 2.0309mmol/g, 3.0464mmol/g, 3.0226mmol/g and 3.5185mmol/g at pressures of 10psi, 20psi, 30psi, 40psi and 50psi respectively. At 40oC, adsorption capacity was 0.5978mmol/g, 1.6920mmol/g, 2.1657mmol/g, 3.1358mmol/g and 3.8577mmol/g at pressures of 10psi, 20psi, 30psi, 40psi and 50psi respectively and finally at 70oC, adsorption capacity was 0.6588mmol/g, 1.3176mmol/g, 2.2029mmol/g, 2.1822mmol/g and 2.3880mmol/g at pressures of 10psi, 20psi, 30psi, 40psi and 50psi respectively.