Agricultural and agro-industrial residues are ordinary wastes in the forestry industry and their valorization is an important issue.Cocoa (Theobroma cacao) pods waste was chosen as an activated activated carbon material and studied as active materials for supercapacitor electrodes. The carbon electrode has been made using 0.3 M and 0.4 M Potassium Hydroxide (KOH) activators at 700°C. Physical properties were tested by measuring density, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), while the electrochemical properties were tested using the Cyclic Voltammetry (CV) method. Activated carbon electrodes were constructed by a combination of chemical activation, and physical activation methods. The technique of making carbon electrodes was started from pre-carbonization, milling, chemical activation, pellet making, carbonization, and physical activation. Analysis of dimensions, density, and specific capacitance in the manufacture of carbon electrodes showed the mass, diameter, thickness, and density of the electrodes decreased with the addition of KOH concentrations from 0.3 M to 0.4 M. While the specific capacitance value of the electrode was directly proportional to the increase of KOH concentration. In XRD measurement data, the values of 2θ in the range of 23.569°–24.747° was obtained for the reflection field 002, and 44.634°–44.781° for the reflection plane 100. X-ray diffraction curve data showed a 0.4 M at 700°C sample having an L_c value and a lattice distance smaller than the sample of 0.3 M at 700°C. Therefore, it could be indicated that the surface area of the sample of 0.4 M at 700°C was greater than the sample of 0.3 M at 700°C. The electrochemical test showed that the method of chemical activation variation of 0.4 M produced electrodes with better performance than 0.3 M. The specific capacitance value obtained at a concentration of 0.3 M was 90.2 F/gr with a density of 0.850 gr/cm³, while at a concentration of 0.4 M was 140.2 F/gr with a density of 0.802 gr/cm³. These results indicate the high potential of agricultural cocoa pods based activated carbon monoliths as supercapacitor electrode.

Oriental Journal of Chemistry is a peer reviewed quarterly research journal of pure and applied chemistry. It publishes standard research papers in almost all thrust areas of current chemistry of academic and commercial importance. It provides a platform for rapid publication of quality research papers, reviews and chemistry letters. Oriental Journal of Chemistry is abstracted and indexed in almost all reputed National and International agencies.

Synthesis of Cuprum (Cu) Layer by Electrodeposition Method with Theobroma cacao Peels as Corrosion Protector of Steel

Increased cocoa production is in line with the increasing biomass waste from cocoa skin. One way to reduce the buildup of biomass waste is to change the skin of cocoa into activated carbon. The purpose of this research is to utilize cocoa skin into activated carbon for supercapacitor electrodes with a combination of chemical and physical activation methods. Pre-carbonization with a temperature of 250°C for 2.5 hours, chemical activation with KOH activators 0.3 M and 0.4 M, with a physical activation temperature of 700°C. Characterization using FTIR, Thermal Gravimetry Analysis (TGA), Cyclic Voltammetry (CV), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and X-ray Energy Dispersion (EDX). The results showed that the density of activated carbon increased and the specific capacitance decreased with an increase in KOH concentration from 0.3 M to 0.4 M, with an activated carbon content of 87.87%. The density value is 0.850gr/cm³ and the specific capacitance is 90.2 F / gr at a concentration of 0.3 M, while at a concentration of 0.4 M the density value is 0.802 gr/cm³ with the specific capacitance of 140.2 F / gr. Utilization of cocoa skin waste into activated carbon with a combination of chemical and physical activation methods can be used as an energy storage to overcome the current energy crisis.