Improving the surface properties of municipal solid waste-derived pyrolysis biochar by chemical and thermal activation: Optimization of process parameters and environmental application.

Biochar produced from the slow pyrolysis of municipal solid waste was activated with KOH and thermal treatments to enhance its surface and adsorptive properties. The effects of KOH concentration, activation temperature and time on the specific surface area (SSA) of the activated biochar were evaluated and optimized using central composite design (CCD) of the response surface methodology (RSM). Results showed that the activation of biochar enhanced its SSA from 402.