Reduction of Carbon Monoxide in Biogas Using an Activated Carbon Filter Produced from Rubber Tree Branches

Abstract

Biogas is a renewable energy source that can significantly reduce fossil fuel consumption. However, raw biogas often contains carbon monoxide (CO), a toxic gas that compromises safety and reduces combustion efficiency. To address this challenge, this research investigates the impact of various factors of the activated carbon synthesis from rubber tree branches (the precursor and activating agent types, impregnation time) on its yield and physicochemical characteristics and develop on the base of such study results an effective method to reduce carbon monoxide (CO) concentration in biogas using the indicated activated carbon. The research investigates the influence of key synthesis parameters on the yield and physicochemical characteristics of the carbon. A full factorial design was used to optimize these factors. The activated carbon produced from HK (GT1) rubber clone and activated with K₂CO₃ achieved a consistent 90% CO removal efficiency, even at high initial CO concentrations, with adsorption best described by the Langmuir and Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherms. Compared to prior studies that mainly targeted hydrogen sulfide or other impurities in biogas purification, our work uniquely focuses on CO removal and demonstrates superior adsorption performance using a low-cost, renewable biomass-derived activated carbon. The use of a renewable waste biomass as precursor and the high efficiency of the synthesized adsorbent underscore the study’s originality. This work provides a cost-effective and scalable solution for biogas purification, contributing to improved energy performance and sustainable waste management practices.