An Improved Process for Preparing Activated Carbon with Large Specific Surface Area from Corncob

Y. Sun, J. Zhang, G. Yang and Z. Li

Abstract
In this study, the fluidized bed reactor was used to carbonize corncob in the carbonization step of producing carbon adsorbent with large specific surface area. The experiment showed that not only the efficiency of carbonization, but also the value of specific surface area and specific pore volume of the produced carbon were obviously increased. The experimental operating conditions were as follows: carbonizing the corncob in the preheated fluidized-bed at T = 350 °C for 5 min using N2 as carrier gas; impregnating the char with KOH solution; activating the mixture at T = 800 °C for 60 min in the tubular furnace. Under the optimal conditions, the specific surface area and specific pore volume reached s = 2880 m2 g–1 and v = 1.664 cm3 g–1, respectively. Comparison was made between this work and other literature on the preparation of activated carbon with large specific surface area.

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Keywords
Carbon adsorbent, corncob, fluidized-bed