Preparation and characterization of activated carbon from reedy grass leaves in a two- step activation procedure

Abstract

Activated carbons (AC) were produced by chemical activation with potassium hydroxide (KOH) at 800C from chars that were carbonized from reedy grass leaves at 450C in N2 atmosphere and their characteristics were investigated. The effects of activation temperature, duration time and impregnation time were examined. Adsorption capacity was demonstrated with BET and iodine number. BET surface area, pore volume and pore size of activated carbons were characterized by N2 adsorption isotherms. The maximum surface area and iodine number of the AC was 1100 m/g and 1080 mg/g produced at 800C for2h and impregnation time is 8h.The surface chemical characteristics of activated carbons were determined by FT-IR method. The microstructure of the produced activated carbons was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Thermal gravimetry (TG) analysis of raw material was carried out. Keywords-Activated carbons; KOH activation; Reedy grass;