Preparation and Characterization of Small Pore Carbon Molecular Sieves by Chemical Vapor Deposition of Pistachio Shells

Low-cost pistachio shells were used for the production of small pore carbon molecular sieves by the benzene deposition method. The prepared materials were characterized by the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area and scanning electron microscopy. The deposition temperature and the deposition time parameters, which affect the formation of carbon molecular sieves, were examined. The effect of deposition temperature was examined in the range of 700–900°C, while deposition time was examined between 30 and 60 min. The optimum surface area of the carbon molecular sieve prepared by benzene deposition was 895 m²/g at 800°C. The average pore diameter of the carbon molecular sieve was 0.27 nm, principally denoted ultramicropore characteristics. The obtained values of the pore size distributions of the prepared carbon molecular sieves were in the range of 0.26–0.29 nm.