Effect of carbonization temperature on the yield and porosity of char produced from palm shell

Several batches of chars were prepared from palm shell by carbonization in a flow of nitrogen using a fixed-bed reactor. Palm shell was carbonized at temperatures of 500, 600, 700, 800 and 900 degreesC for 1h to study the effects of carbonization temperature on char yield and its porosity. The prepared chars were characterized for the micropore volume using CO2 adsorption while the meso- and macropore volumes were analyzed using a mercury porosimeter. The char yield was around 25% and is comparable with yields reported from other lignocellulosic materials. The results show that carbonization temperature has a significant effect on the micro- and mesopore volumes. However, it has negligible effect on the macropore volume. (C) 2001 Society of Chemical Industry.