Activated carbon from cherry stones

Abstract

Fruit stones constitute a significant waste disposal problem for the fruit-processing industry. High-quality activated carbon can be produced from waste cherry stones: the activated carbon is low in impurities and has an adsorption capacity that compares favorably with commercial activated carbons. Activation at 800°C in steam for 2–3 hours, following initial carbonization, produces an activated carbon in about 10% yield (by weight) of the initial cherry stone. The activated carbons produced have surface areas (CO 2 adsorption) as high as 1200 m 2/g and CCl 4 numbers of 70–80. Activation in carbon dioxide requires higher temperatures (900°C) and gives a carbon of slightly lower activity. Carbon from the hull, or hard outer portion of the fruit stone, provides essentially all of the adsorption capacity; the inner kernel does not form a microporous material. The hull structure is dominated by 0.4-micron pores which facilitate access to internal microporosity. This structure requires that the carbon be ground to less than 75 micron particles to achieve reasonable adsorption rates.