Synthesis and characterization of renewable carbon cryogel beads from empty fruit bunch

Abstract

In this study, liquefaction between empty palm fruit bunch (EPFB) and phenol was carried out by using sulfuric acid and H2SO4 as a catalyst. The liquefied products were reacted with formaldehyde to synthesize resin and undergo sol-gel impregnation (SI) method before further washing, freeze-drying and carbonized to obtain carbon cryogel beads (CCBs). The CCBs then were characterized for their morphology and other physic-chemical properties such as yield, viscosity, conversion, composition, structure and porosities using Gas Chromatography Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Ubblelohde capillary viscometer, pH meter, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA). The results obtained showed that some of phenolic compounds present in liquefaction of EFB which have high potential for partially replacing phenol in phenol-formaldehyde resin. It is envisaged that the synthesized renewable CCBs will have sufficient meso and micropores which can be employed as an absorbent for treating organic compounds (OCs) in waste water.