LAUSR

The cellulosic waste is the most abundant material in the earth. It is considered as a renewable polymer of wood cell walls and plant cells. It is used in different fields mainly as sustainable potential precursors and it is useful for the preparing activated carbon. The purpose of this study is the valorisation and production of activated carbon from cellulose waste, old cladodes of Ficus indica cactus optunia, and the residue of prickly pear seeds after oil extraction. Preparation and characterization of activated carbon (AC) from the two wastes by chemical treatment, phosphoric acid H3PO4 at a temperature of 450 °C has shown a very good adsorption of methylene blue and iodine. This treatment illustrated an important surface area of 820 m2/g for waste seeds and more than 470 m2/g for waste cactus cladodes. Analysis by infrared and pH point of zero charge showed a basic character for both carbons active developed.