Experimental Research on the Preparation of Porous Activated Carbon from Orange Wastes

Abstract

Porous activated carbon was prepared from orange wastes using zinc chloride as an activating agent by one-step carbonization method. Effects of impregnation ratio, carbonization temperature and heat preservation time on pore characteristics of activated carbon were studied. The porous structures of the orange wastes activated carbon were investigated by BET, D-R equations, BJH equations and Kelvin theory. The morphology was observed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The mesoporous activated carbon is gained when the impregnation ratio is 3:1; the carbonization temperature is 550°Cand heat preservation time is 1.0 h. The activated carbon has total pore volume 2.098 cm3/g, mesoporous pore volume 1.438 cm3/g, with a high BET surface area 1476m2/g. The pore distribution of the mesoporous activated carbon is very concentrative, with average pore diameter of 3.88nm. While, the high specific surface area activated carbon is gained when the impregnation ratio is 2:1; the carbonization temperature is 550°Cand heat preservation time is 1.0 h. The activated carbon has high BET surface area 1909 m2/g, while the total pore volume is only 1.448cm3/g and microporous pore volume is 0.889cm3/g, with average pore diameter of 2.29 nm.