Investigating the Effect of HCl Pre-Treatment and Single Step Impregnation-Activation Carbon of K₂FeO₄-KOH Catalyst on the Graphitization Process of Empty Palm Oil Fruit Bunches

The conversion of biomass to graphite requires a catalyst to promote the graphitization process. Effective pre-treatment and activation of the carbon precursor are crucial for improving the efficiency and success of biomass graphitization using metal catalysts. In this work, we investigate the combined effects of HCl pre-treatment and single-step impregnation carbon with K₂FeO₄, along with KOH activation, on the graphitization process of Empty Palm Oil Fruit Bunches (EPOFB). Xray fluorescence (XRF) data reveal that HCl pre-treatment effectively eliminates significant impurities, such as alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, and transition metals, which can hinder the graphitization process. XRD and Raman spectroscopy results indicate that the combination of HCl pre-treatment and single-step impregnation carbon with K₂FeO₄, along with KOH activation significantly improves the graphitic quality of the carbon. High-quality graphitic carbon with an IG/ID ratio of 12.35 for the sample CpreHCl_K₂FeO₄(0.07)_KOH_1200 (EPOFB carbon pre-treated with HCl, followed by impregnation with K2FeO4 and activation with KOH, and then pyrolyzed at 1200°C). This particular sample displays a porous surface morphology and has a surface area of 876.407 m²/g. This study underscores the importance of acid pre-treatment and chemical activation in optimizing the preparation of high-quality graphitic carbon from biomass.