Some Surface Properties of Activated Carbons Prepared by Gasification with Different Gases

Abstract

A non-activated carbon ‘D’ was obtained by carbonizing date pits at 773 K in a limited supply of air. Activated carbons were obtained by gasifying portions of ‘D’ with air at 773 K, carbon dioxide at 1123 K, or steam at 1173 K, all to different burn-offs between 15% and 60%. The adsorption of nitrogen at 77 K and of carbon dioxide at 298 K was investigated using a volumetric adsorption apparatus of a conventional type. The adsorption of water vapour at 298 K and the chemisorption of pyridine at 423 K was followed by means of quartz spring balances. Gasification with oxidizing gases increased the surface area and total pore volume, as measured by nitrogen or carbon dioxide adsorption. In most cases, comparable surface areas were measured by nitrogen and carbon dioxide. The adsorption of water vapour depended on the percentage burn-off and the gasification conditions. Chemisorption of pyridine at 423 K was found to be related to the chemistry of the surface rather than to the surface area or total pore volume.