The pyrolysis process of biomass by two-stage chemical activation with different methodology and iodine adsorption

ABSTRACT: Current concerns with the high energy/cost nature of activated carbon production have encouraged research into alternative activated carbon production methods to reduce the environmental impact. The purpose of this study is to produce the activated carbon from biomass (carob bean seed husk, CBSH) by chemical activation with a different methodology using zinc chloride. Two different activation temperature methodologies for the preparation of activated carbons were applied at the ranges of 30–80 and 200–350°C. The effects of the pre-activation and activation temperatures, duration time, and the impregnation ratio on the surface and chemical properties of activated carbon were investigated. Studies were conducted on the adsorption of iodine from the prepared activated carbon. The highest iodine adsorption number was achieved as 874 mg/g. Langmuir surface area was 1544 m²/g. The structural morphology of activated carbons was evaluated with a scanning electron microscope. The surface chemical characteristics of activated carbons were determined by the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic method.