Development of Air-Conditioning Filter using Palm Shell Activated Carbon

Abdul Mutalib Leman; Fujifero Felix; Noraini Marsi; Mohd Syafiq Syazwan Mustafa; Abdul Murad Zainal Abidin; Anuar Pawan; Mohamad Fikri Mohamad Yunus; Tengku Muhammad Ibrahim Salahuddin Tengku Ahmad

Authors

Abdul Mutalib Leman Faculty of Engineering Technology, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, Pagoh Campus, 84600 Pagoh, Johor, Malaysia
Fujifero Felix Faculty of Engineering Technology, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, Pagoh Campus, 84600 Pagoh, Johor, Malaysia
Noraini Marsi Faculty of Engineering Technology, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, Pagoh Campus, 84600 Pagoh, Johor, Malaysia
Mohd Syafiq Syazwan Mustafa Faculty of Engineering Technology, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, Pagoh Campus, 84600 Pagoh, Johor, Malaysia
Abdul Murad Zainal Abidin JKR Centre of Excellent for Engineering and Technology (CREaTE) 78000 Alor Gajah, Melaka, Malaysia
Anuar Pawan JKR Centre of Excellent for Engineering and Technology (CREaTE) 78000 Alor Gajah, Melaka, Malaysia
Mohamad Fikri Mohamad Yunus JKR Centre of Excellent for Engineering and Technology (CREaTE) 78000 Alor Gajah, Melaka, Malaysia
Tengku Muhammad Ibrahim Salahuddin Tengku Ahmad JKR Centre of Excellent for Engineering and Technology (CREaTE) 78000 Alor Gajah, Melaka, Malaysia

Keywords:

Palm shell activated carbon, Air-conditioning filter, Biomass waste, Carbonization, Chemical activation, Scanning electron microscopy, Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy

Abstract

Indoor air pollution remains a significant concern for human health, particularly due to the presence of airborne particulate matter and gaseous pollutants that are not effectively removed by conventional air-conditioning filters. The utilization of agricultural biomass waste as a precursor for activated carbon offers a sustainable approach to developing alternative air filtration materials. This study aims to develop an air-conditioning filter incorporating palm shell activated carbon (PSAC) and investigate its morphological and elemental characteristics in comparison with an untreated filter and a commercial activated carbon filter. Palm shell biomass was subjected to carbonization and chemical activation processes to produce activated carbon, which was subsequently incorporated into the filter medium. The surface morphology and pore structure of the developed filter were examined using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), while its elemental composition was determined through Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS). SEM observations revealed that the PSAC filter exhibited a rough, highly porous, and interconnected surface morphology, with more pronounced pore development than the untreated and commercial filters. Furthermore, EDS analysis indicated a high carbon content in the PSAC filter, confirming the successful conversion of palm shell biomass into carbon-rich material. Minor mineral elements were also detected, potentially originating from the inherent ash constituents of the biomass and residual chemicals used during activation. Overall, the findings demonstrate the feasibility of incorporating palm shell-derived activated carbon into air-conditioning filter media, highlighting its potential as a sustainable and value-added alternative to conventional filtration materials. Further investigations into particulate filtration efficiency, gaseous pollutant adsorption capacity, and airflow resistance are recommended to establish its practical filtration performance.