Open AccessFabrication of activated carbon using two-step co-pyrolysis of used rubber and larch sawdust
Author(s) -
Jing Geng,
Lu-Fei Li,
Wenliang Wang,
Jianmin Chang,
Changlei Xia,
Liping Cai
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
bioresources
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.404
H-Index - 69
ISSN - 1930-2126
DOI - 10.15376/biores.12.4.8641-8652
Subject(s) - pyrolysis , char , activated carbon , sawdust , materials science , bet theory , natural rubber , scanning electron microscope , chemical engineering , carbon fibers , specific surface area , nuclear chemistry , composite material , adsorption , organic chemistry , chemistry , catalysis , composite number , engineering
Characteristics of the char produced in the co-pyrolysis of used rubber and larch sawdust were studied in the conversion of low-valued pyrolysis char into value-added activated carbon using two-step co-pyrolysis, namely pyrolysis and activation processes. The physicochemical characteristics of the chars were examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results revealed that after the two-step co-pyrolysis, the upgraded carbon had BET surface areas ranging from 600 m2 g−1 to 900 m2 g−1, which were higher than the requirements for activated carbon (American Water Works Association B600 standard). Additionally, as the sawdust/rubber ratio increased, the BET value increased accordingly. A possible reaction mechanism is proposed based on the experimental results during the activation process.