A study of the effect of the preparation conditions on the yield and quantity of activated neem (Azadirachta Indica) husk was made using ZnCl2, H3PO4 and KOH as activating agents. The raw neem husk was washed, dried and carbonized at 4000C and the corresponding yield was 63.6%. The optimum conditions for the activated carbon production was evaluated based on the determination of various adsorption parameters of methylene blue. Using methylene blue as the adsorbate with a maximum wavelength of 660nm, it was found that the optimum activation temperature for activating ZnCl2, H3PO4 and KOH were 4000C, 5000C and 3500C respectively while the optimum concentration and time were 1minute and 10minutes respectively for the 3 activating agents used. The effect of particle size, shaking time, adsorbent dosage and adsorbent regeneration were also studied. Adsorption studies were carried out using carbonized neem carbon, activated neem carbon and commercial adsorbent from coconut shell on methylene blue.
