Patent ID: 8227376

Claim:
A method of producing a multi-modal pore distribution activated carbon comprising the steps of: (i) preparing a solution comprising a polysaccharide precursor, wherein the polysaccharide precursor is alginate; (ii) mixing an additional material with the polysaccharide precursor in the solution; (iii) cross-linking the polysaccharide precursor with the additional material mixed therein by ionic-gelation, wherein the cross-linking comprises reacting the polysaccharide precursor with multivalent cations in solution; (iv) controlling a level of hardness and density of the polysaccharide precursor based on a ratio of mannuronic acid to guluronic acid in the alginate; (v) carbonizing the mixture of the polysaccharide precursor and the additional material; and (vi) activating the carbonized mixture to form a multi-modal pore size distribution activated carbon.