Decolorization of Cane Syrup by Activated Carbon Produced From Peanut Shell
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Date
2019-06
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Publisher
Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Sugar colourants are water soluble compounds present in sugar process products and the most
impurities in sugar industry. Syrup decolorization can be achieved by sulphitation process.
However, at the same time the formation of fine precipitate of CaSO4 become difficult to
eliminate trace of SO2 in final sugar. The aims of this research were to produce activated carbon
from peanut shell using KOH as an activating agent for syrup decolorization with lower color
and lower residual sulfur dioxide levels and as an alternative waste management method. In this
study, the first stage was producing granular activated carbon from peanut shell at different
parameters such as: activation temperature (500
o
o
o
C, 600
C and 700
C), KOH concentration (25,
50 and75%wt.) and particle size (0.5, 1.5 and 2.5mm). Low ash content (1.28%) with high
percent of methylene blue adsorption (79.4%) of activated carbon was obtained having 0.5mm
particle size, 0.26%wt. KOH, and 600
o
C of activation temperature was with 0.965 desirability
chosen as optimal activation parameter. The activated carbon at optimal condition was
characterized in term of ultimate and proximate analysis, FT-IR and methylene blue adsorption
efficiency. Using activated carbon, the effect of various process parameters like temperature,
activated carbon dosage and time on decolorization of cane syrup was investigated. Under the
experimental conditions of 45
o
C, 1.4g activated carbon dosage for 75min was found to be the
optimal condition for maximum cane syrup decolorization efficiency (75.5%). Consequently, the
experimental results indicated that the peanut shell has a potential to be used as an activated
carbon for decolorization of cane syrup.
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Keywords
peanut shell, activated carbon, cane syrup decolorization