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Activated carbon from sugar cane bagasse by carbonization in the presence of inorganic acids
Author(s) -
Girgis Badie S.,
Khalil Laila B.,
Tawfik Tarek A. M.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
journal of chemical technology and biotechnology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.64
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1097-4660
pISSN - 0268-2575
DOI - 10.1002/jctb.280610113
Subject(s) - carbonization , microporous material , phosphoric acid , bagasse , adsorption , activated carbon , specific surface area , nitrogen , bet theory , volume (thermodynamics) , carbon fibers , materials science , chemical engineering , chemistry , nuclear chemistry , organic chemistry , composite material , pulp and paper industry , catalysis , composite number , engineering , physics , quantum mechanics
Dried ground bagasse, impregnated with 50% inorganic acids and carbonized at 500°C, showed the sequence H 3 PO 4 > H 2 SO 4 > HCl > HNO 3 , with respect to the efficiency of activation. Treatment with phosphoric acid of various concentrations (30–50 wt%) was followed by carbonization at 300–500°C for 3 h. Pore structure parameters were determined from the low‐temperature adsorption of nitrogen, by applying the BET and α s methods. Activated carbons obtained at low temperatures are essentially microporous with a low degree of mesoporosity. At higher temperatures products of higher surface area and total pore volume with developed mesoporosity and low microporosity are formed. An increase in the period of carbonization leads to a small decrease in both surface area and pore volume. Activated carbons with surface areas > 1000 m 2 g −1 and mean pore dimensions around 2·0 nm, suitable for various purposes, are thus obtained.