Effect of one-step and two-step H3PO4 activation on activated carbon characteristics. (December 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Oginni, Oluwatosin; Singh, Kaushlendra; Oporto, Gloria; Dawson-Andoh, Benjamin; McDonald, Louis; Sabolsky, Edward
• Is Part Of: Bioresource technology reports. Volume 8(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019-12
• Subjects: Activated carbon -- Activation -- H3PO4 -- Adsorption -- Biochar -- Biomass; Biomass energy -- Periodicals; Biotransformation (Metabolism) -- Periodicals; Agricultural wastes -- Periodicals; Factory and trade waste -- Periodicals; Organic wastes -- Periodicals; Waste products as fuel -- Periodicals; Waste products as fuel; Organic wastes; Factory and trade waste; Biotransformation (Metabolism); Biomass energy; Agricultural wastes; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 662.88
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biteb.2019.100307
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2589-014X

Abstract

Abstract: The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of one-step and two-step H3 PO4 activation on activated carbon characteristics. Kanlow Switchgrass and Public Miscanthus and their biochars obtained via pyrolysis were used as precursors. The precursors were impregnated with H3 PO4 and activated at a temperature of 900 °C to produce biomass-derived and biochar-derived activated carbons. The activated carbons were characterized for textural characteristics, surface chemistry and microstructure. The activated carbons were also tested for their adsorption capacities for caffeine and acetaminophen. The biomass-derived activated carbons (KSBM and PMBM) had the highest BET surface areas of 1373 and 999 m 2 /g, respectively. The total pore volumes of the biomass-derived activated carbons were about two-fold higher than the biochar-derived activated carbons. In addition, the monolayer adsorption capacities of the biomass-derived activated carbons were about five folds higher than that of biochar-derived activated carbons for the adsorption of caffeine and acetaminophen. Highlights: Biomass-derived activated carbons had type IV N2 isotherms. The biomass-derived activated carbons were more disordered and lesser graphitized. Biomass-derived activated carbons adsorbed higher amount of caffeine and acetaminophen.