Production of Activated Carbon from Baobab Fruit (Adansonia digitata L.) Shell

Abstract

Activated carbon (AC) is an amorphous form of carbon with a highly developed internal pore structure and large surface area, making it an excellent adsorbent. This study investigates the optimal conditions for producing activated carbon from baobab fruit shells, an abundant agricultural waste in Sudan, by varying carbonization temperature, particle size, time, and activation agent. The highest yield (29.653%) was obtained for particle sizes of 6–14 mm at 500°C for 2 hours. HCl was the most effective activation agent (1 M, 60 min exposure), achieving 98.6% methylene blue adsorption. This work highlights the potential of baobab shells as a low-cost and sustainable precursor for activated carbon production, reducing waste and import dependency.