Sains Malaysiana 55(1)(2026): 33-46

http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2026-5501-03

Performance and Surface Characteristics of CO₂ Adsorption by Adsorbent Derived from Unutilized Coal at Various Temperatures

(Prestasi dan Ciri Permukaan Penjerapan CO₂ oleh Penjerap yang Diperoleh daripada Arang Batu yang Tidak Digunakan pada Pelbagai Suhu)

IKA MONIKA^1,*, MIFTAHUL HUDA¹, AXL MEVIA², RETNO DAMAYANTI³, RETNO WIJAYANTI¹, EVI DWI YANTI¹, ASNAN RINOVIAN¹ & YUDHA GUSTI WIBOWO^4,5

¹Research Center for Mining Technology, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Lampung, 35361, Indonesia

²Metallurgical Faculty, Bandung Institute of Technology, Jl. Ganesha 10, Bandung, 40132, Indonesia
³Research Center for Geological Resources, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), West Java, 40135, Indonesia

⁴Department of Mining Engineering, Faculty of Technology Industry, Institut Teknologi Sumatera, South Lampung, Lampung, Indonesia

⁴Center for Green and Sustainable Materials, Institut Teknologi Sumatera, South Lampung, Lampung, Indonesia

Diserahkan: 6 Disember 2024/Diterima: 24 Julai 2025

ABSTRACT

Surface characteristics and performance of adsorbent materials are vital for understanding CO₂ sorption. This study utilizes unexploited coal from a power plant, demonstrating its potential as an effective CO₂ adsorbent through proximate, ultimate analyses and iodine number evaluations. BET analysis showed that mesopores consistently exhibited higher volumes than micropores in all samples, with the 'CMC' sample showing the greatest mesopore volume at over 0.3 cm³/g. Surface chemical functional groups and pore structure significantly influence the performance of activated carbon in adsorption processes. In this research, coal-based activated carbon served as a precursor, highlighting the effects of oxygen incorporation into the precursor structure to create new oxygen-containing sites on the surface. These groups were further examined by calcination in a nitrogen atmosphere. The oxygenation process was conducted at varying temperatures - 100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 °C - with subsequent calcination at 900 °C. The highest functional group activity occurred at 500 °C, transitioning from hydroxyl to carboxyl groups. High-temperature calcination at 900 °C facilitated the formation of nitrogen-carboxyl bonds, enhancing the micropore volume and CO₂ adsorption capacity. The calcined samples demonstrated extended breakthrough times, indicating improved adsorption efficacy. Overall, this study confirms that targeted oxygenation and calcination enhance the functional group composition and pore structure of coal-based activated carbon, albeit with a modest increase in adsorption capacity due to low volatile content.

Keywords: Adsorbent; calcination; coal-based activated carbon; CO₂ sorption; oxygen functional group

ABSTRAK

Ciri permukaan dan prestasi bahan penjerap adalah penting untuk memahami penyerapan CO₂. Kajian ini menggunakan arang batu yang belum dieksploitasi daripada loji janakuasa, menunjukkan potensinya sebagai penjerap CO₂ yang berkesan melalui analisis proksimat, analisis ultim dan penilaian nombor iodin. Analisis BET mendedahkan bahawa isi padu mesopori secara tekal lebih tinggi berbanding mikropori dalam semua sampel dengan sampel 'CMC' menunjukkan isi padu mesopori tertinggi melebihi 0.3 cm³/g. Kumpulan fungsi kimia permukaan dan struktur liang memainkan peranan penting dalam prestasi karbon aktif dalam proses penjerapan. Dalam kajian ini, karbon aktif berasaskan arang batu digunakan sebagai bahan asas, menonjolkan kesan penggabungan oksigen ke dalam struktur bahan asas untuk menghasilkan tapak baharu yang mengandungi oksigen di permukaan. Kumpulan fungsi ini diperiksa lebih lanjut melalui proses kalsinasi dalam atmosfera nitrogen. Proses pengoksigenan dijalankan pada suhu berbeza - 100, 200, 300, 400 dan 500 °C - diikuti dengan kalsinasi pada suhu 900 °C. Aktiviti kumpulan fungsi tertinggi berlaku pada suhu 500 °C, dengan peralihan daripada kumpulan hidroksil kepada kumpulan karboksil. Kalsinasi suhu tinggi pada 900 °C memudahkan pembentukan ikatan nitrogen-karboksil, meningkatkan isi padu mikropori dan kapasiti penjerapan CO₂. Sampel yang dikalsinasi menunjukkan masa terobosan yang lebih panjang, menunjukkan keberkesanan penjerapan yang lebih baik. Secara keseluruhan, kajian ini mengesahkan bahawa pengoksigenan dan kalsinasi yang disasarkan meningkatkan komposisi kumpulan fungsi dan struktur liang karbon aktif berasaskan arang batu, walaupun dengan peningkatan kapasiti penjerapan yang sederhana disebabkan kandungan bahan meruap yang rendah.

Kata kunci: Kalsinasi; karbon aktif berasaskan arang batu; kumpulan fungsi oksigen; penjerap; penyerapan CO₂

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*Pengarang untuk surat-menyurat; email: ikam005@brin.go.id