Dear @usama jamil,

Rather than looking for different kinds of activation techniques, I think you should focus on the resources and technology that is within your reach. For adsorption studies, activation of the adsorbent increases its surface area thereby increasing its adsorption capacity. There are three basic types of activation; physical, Chemical, and then the combination of both which has proven to be more efficient in elevating the adsorption capacity of most materials.

Physical activation such as carbonization, steam explosion or microwave method is usually used first to reduce the surface area of the adsorbent. Recently, the microwave method is gaining grounds because of its uniform volumetric heating, good regulation of the process and indirect contact with the heat source which could break some beneficial bonds we require.

Chemical methods involves the use of reagents such as acids, bases or salts. In the spirit of green chemistry and environmental consciousness, organic acids like citric or acetic acid rather than mineral acids like HCl and salts like calcium chloride should be encouraged as they are more environmentally and man friendly.

Away from all these, you could convert your biochar to carbon nanotubes (CNT) or Carbon Quantum Dots (CQD) to increase its adsorption capacity.

Iwuozor Kingsley Ogemdi

Article Production, Activation and Application of Biochar in Recent Times

Yes, you can know it in our lab.

Dear Usama Jamil many thanks for this interesting technical question. Your goal is to make adsorbent from biochar activation. In this context I can recommend to you the following useful references:

1. Biochar as an Eco-Friendly and Economical Adsorbent for the Removal of Colorants (Dyes) from Aqueous Environment: A Review

2. Biochar for Wastewater Treatment—Conversion

Technologies and Applications

3. Activated biochar as an effective sorbent for organic and inorganic contaminants in water

All three articles are freely available as public full texts from the general internet. For your information please find attached pdf files of all three papers.

I thank all of you for your precious advice.

Usama Jamil

I highly recommend this review article to you, which compares different kinds of chemical activating agents including alkaline, acidic, neutral, and self-activating agents.