Open AccessPhysico-chemical characterization of powdered activated carbons obtained by thermo-chemical conversion of brown municipal waste
Author(s) -
Miloš Momčilović,
Milovan M. Purenović,
Miomir Miljković,
Aleksandar Bojić,
Aleksandra Zarubica,
Marjan Ranđelović
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
hemijska industrija
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.147
H-Index - 19
eISSN - 2217-7426
pISSN - 0367-598X
DOI - 10.2298/hemind110124016m
Subject(s) - activated carbon , titration , conifer cone , inert gas , chemistry , activated sludge , carbon fibers , fourier transform infrared spectroscopy , palm kernel , chemical engineering , inert , nitrogen , nuclear chemistry , materials science , adsorption , organic chemistry , waste management , composite number , wastewater , botany , composite material , food science , palm oil , engineering , biology
Cones of the European Black pine and Horse chestnut kernel, regarded as brown municipal waste, was utilized in this work as a precursor for powdered activated carbons. Chemical activation was employed at 500°C in inert atmosphere of nitrogen. Standard physico-chemical analyses were performed to examine obtained products. FTIR method was employed to determine fuctional groups which were found to be typical for activated carbons. Acidic oxygen groups were quantitatively determined using Boehm titrations. It was established that carboxylic groups on pine cone activated carbon, and phenolic groups on chestnut kernel activated carbon were dominant from all acidic oxygen groups. Since both contact pH and pHPZC were determined to be fairly acidic, it could be concluded that obtained activated carbons belong to L-type. Shape and layout of micrometer dimensioned particles were observed by scanning electron microscopy. Particles of different shapes and dimensions along with small cracks and wide crevices and voids were noticed. Textural analysis was used to determine specific surface area and pore distribution of obtained activated carbons. Obtained products possess highly developed surface area and wide pore distribution