Abstract: In order to find out new material resource and new heating measure, preparation of activated carbon from Amygdalus communis L. shell under microwave irradiation was researched. Effects of four major factors, i.e. activation agent sort and concentration, microware power and radiation time, on the yields and methylene blue absorption of activated carbon were investigated by experimental design using an orthogonal table program including four factors and three levels. The result indicated that the effect of activation time was significant, and the activation agent concentration was the second factors for the properties of activated carbon. The optimal results were 10 g Amygdalus Cummunis L. Shell, microwave power 640 W, microwave time 16 min and H₃PO₄ solution mass fraction 40%. Under this condition, the decolorizing capacity for methylene blue of activated carbon was 231.5 mg/g, and the yield was 56.8%. The processes of adsorbing methylne blue with activated carbon could be suitably described by pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The adsorption capacity of activated carbon was increased with increasing the temperature, and the adsorption isotherm was better fitted by Freundlich model than that by Langmuir model.

Key words: microwave irradiation, amygdalus communis L. shell, activated carbon