Conductive effect of ferric chloride (FeCl₃) on carbonized <i>Chloris barbata</i> Sw. stem via activation-carbonization-pyrolysis method

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the conductive effect of ferric chloride (FeCl3) on carbonized Chloris barbata sw. stem via the activation-carbonization-pyrolysis method. The study was accomplished utilizing a Completely Randomized Design, which comprised five (5) treatments and three (3) replications. The activated carbon produced was made using C. barbata stem and ferric chloride (FeCl3) at different molar concentrations. Control -no FeCl3(T1), 1 molar concentration (T5). The study was carried out to determine the electrical conductivity, surface characteristics in terms of pore and elemental composition, surface area, and the cost analysis of the activated carbon. The data were analyzed using One-Way ANOVA of variance at 1% and 5% significance levels, Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Energy Disperse X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), and Fourier Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). The results revealed that the electrical conductivity of all treatments was shown to be statistically highly significant. According to the findings, T5 (4 M) registered the highest electrical conductivity at 2677.06 x 10-6 μS/m. It was also found to display micropore structure and various organic and inorganic functionalities, register relatively low surface area, and more acceptable production cost per unit mass.