Corn cobs. bagasse. sawdust and pericarp of peanuts are abundantly available as agro-industrial wastes These arc important precursors of pentosans. On dilute acid hydrolysis. pentosans are converted into furfural. a chemical or industrial importance. Raw materials were hydrolyzed with various concentrations of H2S04 and HCI and furfural was extracted. The residue left after the extraction of furfural was activated at 700°C in a muffie furnace and active carbon of a good quality was obtained. Adsorption capacity of active carbon was determined with iodine and methylene blue. Significant yield of furfural was obtained from corn cobs and bagasse (13.86% and 16% respecnvctvi Sulphuric acid was found to be a better hydrolyzing and activation agent than hydrochloric acid. Key words: acid hydrolysis. active carbon, agro-industrial wastes. furfural, Pakistan
