Preparation of mesoporous high-surface-area activated carbon

Abstract

A new type of carbonaceous adsorbent, mesoporous high-surface-area activated carbons, was prepared using a simple and cost-effective method. Simultaneous physical and chemical activation were used to prepare activated carbons from coconut shell. By changing the ratio of activating agent to carbon precursor, the pore size was controlled from supermicropore to mesopore. Adsorption tests in liquid media showed that adsorption capacities conformed to calculations based on nitrogen adsorption isotherms. The mesoporous nature of the samples was confirmed by the observed capacity for erythrosine red, which exhibited six times the capacity of a commercial activated carbons.