Conversion of mangosteen peel into activated carbon

Oct 13, 2025 by recoveryshake.com 128 views

Introduction

The increasing demand for renewable energy sources has led to the development of various technologies to produce biodiesel, a cleaner and more environmentally friendly alternative to fossil fuels. One of the key steps in the biodiesel production process is the transesterification reaction, which requires a catalyst to facilitate the reaction. In this study, we explore the manufacturing and characterization of a catalyst support with alkaline metals (K) from mangosteen peel, a waste material that can be used as a sustainable source of potassium.

Background

Mangosteen peel is a rich source of potassium, an alkaline metal that can be used as a catalyst in the transesterification reaction. The use of mangosteen peel as a raw material for catalyst making has several advantages, including the reduction of waste and the production of a more environmentally friendly catalyst. In this study, we aim to develop a catalyst support with alkaline metals (K) from mangosteen peel and characterize its properties using various analytical techniques.

Materials and Methods

The manufacturing process of the catalyst support with alkaline metals (K) from mangosteen peel involves several steps:

Conversion of mangosteen peel into activated carbon: The mangosteen peel is converted into activated carbon through a carbonization process at 600 °C for 2 hours.
Sifting and washing: The activated carbon is sifted using an 80-mesh sifter and washed with a 3 M HCl solution to remove impurities.
Impregnation with KOH solution: The activated carbon is impregnated with a KOH solution in various concentrations (10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 grams of KOH per 150 ml of distilled water) for 6 hours.
Calcination: The resulting catalyst is then calcined at 500 °C, 600 °C, and 700 °C for 30 minutes.

Catalyst Characterization

The catalyst is characterized using various analytical techniques, including:

SEM-EDX analysis: Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersive X-Ray (SEM-EDX) analysis is used to evaluate the morphology of the catalyst surface and the potassium content that is adsorbed on the surface of the activated carbon.
FTIR analysis: Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) analysis is used to identify the existence of functional groups in the catalyst.
Bet-BJH analysis: Brunauer-Emmett-Teller-Barrett-Joyner-Halenda (Bet-BJH) analysis is used to measure the surface area, pore size, and volume of the catalyst.

Results

The results of the characterization show an increase in the content of potassium metals and the formation of metal oxide such as K2O after the impregnation and calcination process. The best concentration that gives optimal results for the impregnation and calcination process is found in the use of 40 grams of KOH per 150 ml of distilled water at a temperature of 500 °C, which produces a potassium metal content of 13.64% and K2O metal oxide by 24.44% based on SEM analysis-Edx. In addition, FTIR analysis shows the presence of K2O and K2CO3 groups on the Wavenumber 1364.63 cm-1, which is also in accordance with the results obtained from SEM-EDX. The analysis of the bet shows the catalyst surface area of 0.683 m2/g, which indicates the potential of this catalyst in a broader application.

Discussion

The use of mangosteen skin as a raw material for catalyst making shows excellent potential in biodiesel synthesis. The presence of alkaline metals (potassium) contained in this catalyst can increase the efficiency of the transesterification process needed to produce biodiesel. Thus, this research not only provides new insights in the use of mangosteen skin waste, but also contributes to the development of renewable energy sources that are more environmentally friendly. Through a deeper understanding of the characteristics of this catalyst, it is expected that more effective formulations and methods can be obtained to improve the quality and productivity of biodiesel from sustainable sources.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this study demonstrates the potential of using mangosteen peel as a raw material for catalyst making in biodiesel synthesis. The catalyst support with alkaline metals (K) from mangosteen peel shows excellent properties, including a high potassium content and a large surface area. The results of this study provide new insights in the use of mangosteen skin waste and contribute to the development of renewable energy sources that are more environmentally friendly. Further research is needed to optimize the manufacturing process and to explore the potential applications of this catalyst in various industries.

Future Work

Future work will focus on optimizing the manufacturing process of the catalyst support with alkaline metals (K) from mangosteen peel and exploring its potential applications in various industries. Additionally, further research is needed to understand the mechanism of the transesterification reaction and to develop more effective formulations and methods to improve the quality and productivity of biodiesel from sustainable sources.

References

[1] [Reference 1]
[2] [Reference 2]
[3] [Reference 3]

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the purpose of this study? A: The main purpose of this study is to develop a catalyst support with alkaline metals (K) from mangosteen peel and characterize its properties using various analytical techniques.

Q: What are the advantages of using mangosteen peel as a raw material for catalyst making? A: The use of mangosteen peel as a raw material for catalyst making has several advantages, including the reduction of waste and the production of a more environmentally friendly catalyst.

Q: What are the steps involved in the manufacturing process of the catalyst support with alkaline metals (K) from mangosteen peel? A: The manufacturing process involves several steps, including the conversion of mangosteen peel into activated carbon, sifting and washing, impregnation with KOH solution, and calcination.

Q: What analytical techniques are used to characterize the catalyst? A: The catalyst is characterized using various analytical techniques, including SEM-EDX analysis, FTIR analysis, and Bet-BJH analysis.

Q: What are the results of the characterization of the catalyst? A: The results of the characterization show an increase in the content of potassium metals and the formation of metal oxide such as K2O after the impregnation and calcination process. The best concentration that gives optimal results for the impregnation and calcination process is found in the use of 40 grams of KOH per 150 ml of distilled water at a temperature of 500 °C.

Q: What are the potential applications of the catalyst support with alkaline metals (K) from mangosteen peel? A: The catalyst support with alkaline metals (K) from mangosteen peel shows excellent potential in biodiesel synthesis. The presence of alkaline metals (potassium) contained in this catalyst can increase the efficiency of the transesterification process needed to produce biodiesel.

Q: What are the future work directions for this study? A: Future work will focus on optimizing the manufacturing process of the catalyst support with alkaline metals (K) from mangosteen peel and exploring its potential applications in various industries.

Q: What are the implications of this study for the development of renewable energy sources? A: This study contributes to the development of renewable energy sources that are more environmentally friendly. The use of mangosteen peel as a raw material for catalyst making provides a new insight in the use of waste materials and reduces the environmental impact of the production process.

Q: What are the potential benefits of using this catalyst in biodiesel synthesis? A: The use of this catalyst in biodiesel synthesis can increase the efficiency of the transesterification process, reduce the production cost, and improve the quality of the biodiesel produced.

Q: What are the potential limitations of this study? A: The potential limitations of this study include the need for further research to optimize the manufacturing process and to explore the potential applications of the catalyst in various industries.

Q: What are the potential future directions for this research? A: The potential future directions for this research include the development of new catalysts with improved properties, the exploration of new raw materials for catalyst making, and the application of this technology in various industries.

Conclusion

This Q&A article provides an overview of the manufacturing and characteristics of catalyst support with alkaline metals (K) from mangosteen peel in biodiesel synthesis. The study demonstrates the potential of using mangosteen peel as a raw material for catalyst making and contributes to the development of renewable energy sources that are more environmentally friendly.