Textural and morphological characteristics of activated carbon cloths: effect of the activating agent

M. E. RAMOS; A. L. CUKIERMAN; P. CARROTT; S. BLACHER; J. P. PIRARD

Nancy, Francia

Congreso; Lignocarb Conference; 2007

ALFA EUROPEAID CO-OPERATION OFFICE, NANCY-UNIVERSITÉ, ENSTIB

Surface and morphological features of activated carbon cloths (ACCs) synthesized in PINMATE (UBA, Argentina) bychemical activation of regenerated cellulose fabric using different chemical as activating agents were investigated.The effect of the selected activating agent on porosity development of the resulting ACCs was examined. Nitrogen isotherms at 77 K for all the samples were determined. Different models (BET, Dubinin-Radushkevich, ALPHA;S)  were applied in order to calculate the textural parameters. The ACCs were observed by Transmission Electron Microscopy. Variation in chemical reagent induced noticeable changes in the uptake of nitrogen and in the shape of the isotherm. Phosphoric acid and boric acid led to essentially microporous adsorbents. Meanwhile ACCs obtained by impregnation with others phosphorous reagents and ammonium citrate presented development of meso and macroporosity. Micropore volumes calculated by means of ALPHA;S model was significantly lower than the values calculated by the DR equation for some ACCs. Results pointed out to a linear relationship between differences in micropore values and external surface areas evaluated by the ALPHA;S method. TEM micrographs revealed variations in ACCs´ surface morphology, in agreement with N2 adsorption data.