Activated carbon produced from bamboo and solid residue by CO2 activation utilized as CO2 adsorbents

Abstract

Bamboo and its solid residue after hydrothermal treatment were converted successfully into porous carbon by physical activation with the CO2 agent. The solid residue exhibits a higher potential to form activated carbon thanks to its very low ash content (almost 0%). The porosity and CO2 uptake of the carbon materials were characterized by the N2 and CO2 adsorption/desorption techniques. The results showed a dominant microporous structure in the carbon derived from both bamboo and solid residue. The highest BET surface area that the carbon material from bamboo could achieve was 976 m2 g−1, meanwhile, this value at the carbon prepared from solid residue activated at the same temperature was 1496 m2 g−1. The microporosity structure of activated carbon could be stimulated and enhanced at the optimal condition of CO2 activation. The CO2 adsorption capacity of the carbon made from bamboo and the solid residue was also analyzed with good capacity (3.4 mmol g−1) comparing to the 3 reference materials at the same condition of adsorption (293 K, 1 atm).