Characterization of Activated Carbon from Rice Husk for Enhanced Energy Storage Devices

Abstract

The production of activated carbon (AC) from lignocellulosic biomass through chemical activation is gaining global attention due to its scalability, economic viability, and environmental advantages. Chemical activation offers several benefits, including energy efficiency, reduced carbonization time, and lower temperature requirements. In this study, potassium hydroxide (KOH) was employed for chemical activation, resulting in activated carbon with a high specific surface area of ~3050 m2/g. The structural analysis revealed the presence of graphitized carbon in the activated carbon matrix, accounting for over 15%. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique was employed to investigate the activated carbon derived from rice husk (RH). The potential applications of activated carbon obtained from rice husks through chemical activation were explored, including its use for heavy metal removal, elimination of organic pollutants, and as an active material in hybrid energy storage devices. Furthermore, a scaling methodology for the production of activated carbon was proposed, facilitating its industrial implementation.