Abstract: This work aims to evaluate the composition and temperature dependent of dielectric properties of activated carbon precursor mixture in microwave-assisted chemical activation. Varying fractions of zinc chloride solution and palm kernel shell were used, and the dielectric properties were determined using open-ended coaxial probe method at microwave frequencies. Results show that the dielectric constant, ε’_r decreased with increasing frequency and electrolyte concentration. Results also suggest that mixture containing higher electrolyte concentration is suitable to be heated under microwave at lower frequency. In addition, the loss tangent, tan δ and penetration depth, D_p are slightly improved at higher temperature. Suitable selection of frequency is therefore imperative for effective heating by microwave as the composition and temperature are also dependent on the dielectric properties.
 
Key words: Char, dielectric properties, microwave-assisted chemical activation, palm kernel shell, penetration depth, zinc chloride

Cite: Muhammad Abbas Ahmad Zaini, Nurul Zamani Mohammad Sabri, Mohd. Johari Kamaruddin, You Kok Yeow, "Composition- and Temperature-Dependent of Dielectric Properties of Zinc Chloride-Palm Kernel Shell Mixture at Microwave Frequencies," International Journal of Materials Science and Engineering, Vol. 3, No. 4, pp. 301-309, December 2015. doi: 10.17706/ijmse.2015.3.4.301-309