BioResources (Jul 2014)

Forming Active Carbon Monoliths from H3PO4-loaded Sawdust with Addition of Peanut Shell Char

  • Dawei Li,
  • Yuanyu Tian,
  • Yingyun Qiao

DOI
https://doi.org/10.15376/biores.9.3.4981-4992
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 9, no. 3
pp. 4981 – 4992

Abstract

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Peanut shell char (PSC) was converted into active carbon monoliths (ACMs) by adding a binder that was easy to make. The conversion process involved adding the PSC into H3PO4-loaded sawdust, extruding the mixture, and finally heating the resulting monoliths for different times. The properties of the resulting ACMs were investigated using scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared analysis, nitrogen adsorption-desorption, X-ray diffraction, and thermogravimetric analysis. The H3PO4-loaded sawdust could be used as a binder for converting powdered PSC into well-shaped ACMs without visual cracks. The resulting ACMs maintained their monolithic shape, even in water. The ACMs showed a much higher specific surface area (SSA, 850 to 915 m2/g) than the PSC (105 m2/g). The largest SSA (915 m2/g) was achieved by activation for 50 min. Increasing the activation time decreased the SSA and apparent density, but only slightly impacted the carbon structure. This research might lead to value-added conversion of bio-chars.

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