Corn stalks char from fast pyrolysis as precursor material for preparation of activated carbon in fluidized bed reactor

Abstract

Corn stalks char from fast pyrolysis was activated by physical and chemical activation process in a fluidized bed reactor. The structure and morphology of the carbons were characterized by N2 adsorption and SEM. Effects of activation time and activation agents on the structure of activation carbon were investigated. The physically activated carbons with CO2 have BET specific surface area up to 880m2/g, and exhibit microporous structure. The chemically activated carbons with H3PO4 have BET specific surface area up to 600m2/g, and exhibit mesoporous structure. The surface morphology shows that physically activated carbons exhibit fibrous like structure in nature with long ridges, resembling parallel lines. Whereas chemically activated carbons have cross-interconnected smooth open pores without the fibrous like structure.