CHANGE IN PORE STRUCTURE OF CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS DURING ACTIVATION AND ADSORPTION PERFORMANCE OF ACTIVATED CARBON

Three different chars (two coal base and one coconut shell base) were activated with steam and C02 in a laboratory scale fluidized-bed reactor. The changes in physical properties and pore characteristics of the chars during activation were thoroughly examined. Simple equations are presented for describing the changes of properties using particle density. The effects of the starting materials and the operating variables on the development of pore structure are discussed. By using the activated carbons produced, the adsorption isotherms and the intraparticle diffusivities of DBS in dilute aqueous solution are estimated through batch experiments. Then the breakthrough curves of fixed-bed adsorbers are predicted using the adsorption isotherms and intraparticle diffusivities. As burnoff increased, column performance improved and reached a maximum at 50 to 60% burnoff, which corresponded to the burnoff at maximum surface area. © 1979, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.