Mesoporous Composite Materials from Acivated Rice Husk Carbon and Montmorillonite

Abstract

<p>Three different carbons were prepared from rice husk by steam activation at 700 °C, H<sub>3</sub>PO<sub>4</sub>-activation followed by desilication or desilication followed by H<sub>3</sub>PO<sub>4</sub>-activation at 500 °C. Honeycomb monoliths were obtained by mixing of a carbon with montmorillonite followed by extrusion, curing, calcination and leaching by alkaline solution. Obtained blocks were compared in terms of their morphology and elemental composition using data of SEM/EDX-analysis. From low temperature nitrogen adsorption study results it follows that prepared monoliths are characterized by SBET up to 700 m<sup>2</sup>/g (V<sub>Σ</sub> = 0.79 cm<sup>3</sup>/g) and pore size distribution shows the maximum around 4 nm. Methylene blue number is as high as 250 mg/g.</p>