Conversion of wood charcoal wastes into activated carbons

M. SIMON; P. R. BONELLI; M. C. CASSANELLO; A. L. CUKIERMAN

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Congreso; 6th Asian Pacific International Symposium on Combustion and Energy Utilization; 2002

UNIVERSITI TEKNOGI MALAYSIA, CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

Wood charcoal wastes as a potential precusor for activated carbons production though partial gasification is explored by using comparatively either pure CO2 or steam/N2 mixtures as agents, under moderate process conditions. Surface properties of the activated carbons are characterized from N2 adsorption isotherms. The evolution of porosity development, as judged from specific surface areas of the activated carbons, with the course of reaction is particularly examined. Both activating agents lead to carbons with diferent appropriate surface areas, ranging from 400x103 to 1000x103 m2/kg, and yields up to 60%. Under similar operating conditions, the development of the surface area for the carbons prepared with steam is more pronounced than that generated by using CO2. Activation of the charcoal wastes with both agents promotes carbons possessing a predominant contribution of micropores to the total pore volume, although a relatively enhanced mesoporous character and better yelds are found for the samples prepared with steam.