Abstract
Pitch based activated carbons (PAC) with a high specific surface area were produced by a direct chemical activation route in which oxidative stabilized pitch derived from ethylene tar oil was reacted with potassium hydroxide under various activation conditions. It was found that PACs with a surface area of around 2600–3600 m2 g-1 could be obtained under suitable activation conditions. N2 adsorption (at 77 K) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy experiments showed that the PAC has a uniformly developed micropore structure and a narrow pore size distribution (radius 0.8–1.6 nm). Abundant oxygen-containing functional groups (such as C–OH, C–O–C, C=O, COOR etc.) were found to exist on its surface. Compared with a commercially available activated carbon (AC) and also a pitch based activated carbon fibre, PAC has a quicker adsorption–desorption velocity and a larger adsorptive capacity to benzene due to its higher surface area. Clear surface differences between PAC and AC were observed by transmission electron microscopy.
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