# Preparation of Active Carbon by Additional Activation with Potassium Hydroxide and Characterization of Their Properties

Authors: Bronislaw Buczek
Journal: Advances in Materials Science and Engineering
 (2016)

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## Abstract

A commercially available activated carbon was used to prepare active carbonvia reactivation with KOH at 750°C. Active carbon was obtained with 60.5% yield. The resulting active carbon showed a well-developed porous structure with specific surface area 2939 m2/g, total pore volume 1.488 cm3/g, and micropore volume 1.001 cm3/g. Process reactivation of carbon changes its particle size as well as density properties and increases by nearly twice the amounts of methane and carbon dioxide adsorbed under high pressure conditions. Such active carbon may be used to enrich methane or carbon dioxide by pressure swing adsorption technique. Other possible applications of reactivated carbon are storage of hydrogen and methane and sequestration of carbon dioxide.


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## Body

## 1. Introduction

Activated carbons are produced from different precursors, such as wood, peat, brown coal, lignite, various types of hard coal, anthracite, carbo- and petrochemical products, polymers, and fruit shells [1, 2]. Typically, all organic precursor can be converted into activated carbons; however, in most cases, it requires the usage of an activation agent and only a few are commercially attractive. The properties of the final product depend on the nature of raw material used, the nature of activating agent, and the conditions of activation process.The traditional production of activated carbon consists of two steps: (i) carbonization of the precursor at a temperature below 900°C in inert atmosphere and (ii) chemical or physical chemical activation of the carbonized precursor [3].In the chemical activation process, either the previously carbonized product is impregnated with suitable chemical agents, such as acids (HNO3, H2SO4, and H3PO4) or salts (ZnCl2, MgCl2, FeCl3, AlCl3, and K2S). These reagents act by solubilized cellulose, which, at elevated temperatures, separates, as a highly dispersed amorphous carbon, which forms a porous structure in the carbonaceous adsorbent.When the chemical treatment is carried out with sulphuric acid at temperatures <200°C, the active carbon shows poor sorption capabilities. During activation with phosphoric acid at 375–500°C, corrosion problems appear with the equipment. One drawback of activation with zinc chloride at 550–650°C is that the active carbon is polluted with zinc salts, which are difficult to remove.Amoco Corporation developed a process to produce high surface area carbons (over 3000 m2/g) by the KOH activation of aromatic precursors such petroleum coke and coal. The process was commercialized in the 1980s and was subsequently licensed and operated on pilot plant by the Kansai Coke and Chemicals Co. At this time, only limited quantities of products have been produced. The activated carbon is predominantly microporous, which is responsible for high surface area, and the total pore volume is exceptionally high: 2.0–2.6 mL/g [4].Increasing interest in activation with potassium hydroxide from such precursors as wood and vegetable shells has led to investigations of the chemistry and mechanism of formation of activated carbon with a perfectly developed porous structure and a very high specific surface area [5].The paper presents the results of studies on increasing the adsorption capacity of a commercial active carbon for methane and carbon dioxide by additional activation with potassium hydroxide.


## 2. Experimental

### 2.1. Material and Reactivation with KOH

The material for the additional chemical treatment was Picazine active carbon [6] manufactured from pinewood by Société PICA, France. The original chemical activation was done using orthophosphoric acid.


#### 2.1.1. Reactivation of Active Carbon

Picazine carbon was dried and then mixed with ground KOH in the ratio 1 : 3 (m/m). The treatment was carried out in a muffle furnace at a temperature of 750°C in an atmosphere of neutral gas (N2). The mixture was rapidly heated to 700°C, and then the temperature was raised to 750°C at a rate of 10°C/min. After this temperature was attained, the reaction mixture was held for 30 min, and then it was cooled to ambient temperature. All the time, the neutral gas (N2) was flowing inside the furnace at a rate of 30 L/min. When the reaction mixture reached ambient temperature, it was neutralised with 5% HCl solution. The carbon modified in this way gave the solution a green colour that remained during the initial period of washing. After each subsequent wash out of the potassium base, the suspension was decanted, diluted with distilled water, and its pH value was measured. This treatment was repeated several times, until the pH of the filtrate reached 6.5. When the specified pH was achieved, the active carbon was separated from the solution by filtration under reduced pressure of 10–15 mmHg, rinsing the filter cake with distilled water, which was then dried at a temperature of 120°C. The modified product was obtained with a yield of 60.5% (m/m). The KOH modified active carbon was denoted by Picazine K.


## 2.1. Material and Reactivation with KOH

The material for the additional chemical treatment was Picazine active carbon [6] manufactured from pinewood by Société PICA, France. The original chemical activation was done using orthophosphoric acid.


### 2.1.1. Reactivation of Active Carbon

Picazine carbon was dried and then mixed with ground KOH in the ratio 1 : 3 (m/m). The treatment was carried out in a muffle furnace at a temperature of 750°C in an atmosphere of neutral gas (N2). The mixture was rapidly heated to 700°C, and then the temperature was raised to 750°C at a rate of 10°C/min. After this temperature was attained, the reaction mixture was held for 30 min, and then it was cooled to ambient temperature. All the time, the neutral gas (N2) was flowing inside the furnace at a rate of 30 L/min. When the reaction mixture reached ambient temperature, it was neutralised with 5% HCl solution. The carbon modified in this way gave the solution a green colour that remained during the initial period of washing. After each subsequent wash out of the potassium base, the suspension was decanted, diluted with distilled water, and its pH value was measured. This treatment was repeated several times, until the pH of the filtrate reached 6.5. When the specified pH was achieved, the active carbon was separated from the solution by filtration under reduced pressure of 10–15 mmHg, rinsing the filter cake with distilled water, which was then dried at a temperature of 120°C. The modified product was obtained with a yield of 60.5% (m/m). The KOH modified active carbon was denoted by Picazine K.


## 2.1.1. Reactivation of Active Carbon

Picazine carbon was dried and then mixed with ground KOH in the ratio 1 : 3 (m/m). The treatment was carried out in a muffle furnace at a temperature of 750°C in an atmosphere of neutral gas (N2). The mixture was rapidly heated to 700°C, and then the temperature was raised to 750°C at a rate of 10°C/min. After this temperature was attained, the reaction mixture was held for 30 min, and then it was cooled to ambient temperature. All the time, the neutral gas (N2) was flowing inside the furnace at a rate of 30 L/min. When the reaction mixture reached ambient temperature, it was neutralised with 5% HCl solution. The carbon modified in this way gave the solution a green colour that remained during the initial period of washing. After each subsequent wash out of the potassium base, the suspension was decanted, diluted with distilled water, and its pH value was measured. This treatment was repeated several times, until the pH of the filtrate reached 6.5. When the specified pH was achieved, the active carbon was separated from the solution by filtration under reduced pressure of 10–15 mmHg, rinsing the filter cake with distilled water, which was then dried at a temperature of 120°C. The modified product was obtained with a yield of 60.5% (m/m). The KOH modified active carbon was denoted by Picazine K.


## 3. Evaluation of Properties Active Carbon and Product of Reactivation

### 3.1. Sieve Analysis

In order to determine the size distribution of the particles of both active carbons, size analysis was performed [7] for both active carbons (Figure 1).Figure 1
Sieve analysis of Picazine and Picazine K.
(a)
(b)The results, and the calculated values of the equivalent diameter, prove that Picazine carbon undergoes far-reaching disintegration as a result of high-temperature KOH treatment, and the product obtained shows two predominant particle sizes (ca. 0.2 and 0.7 mm). A change in the particle size of the active carbons, as well as the modification itself, significantly affects the values of different kind of densities.


### 3.2. Densities Measurements

Important properties of adsorbents are their densities: bulk density (ρn), apparent density (ρp), and real density (ρr). Bulk density was determined by Powder Characteristics Tester [8], apparent density was determined by using mercury displacement, and real density was determined by GeoPyc 1330 Envelope Density Analyzer [9].Pore volumes (V) for both carbons were calculated from ρp and ρr using the following equation:(1)V=1ρp-1ρr.Total porosity (εc) that includes the volume of interparticle space and the volume present inside adsorbent particles was determined from the following relation:(2)εc=1-ρnρr.The results of density determination and the values calculated from (1) and (2) are given in Table 1.Table 1
Densities, porosity, and total porosity of active carbons.
Properties
Picazine
Picazine K
Bulk density (ρn), g/cm3
0.204
0.120
Apparent density (ρp), g/cm3
0.450
0.325
Real density (ρr), g/cm3
1.777
2.669
Pore volume (V), cm3/cm3
1.660
2.702
Total porosity (εc), cm3/cm3
0.885
0.995It is clear from Table1 that the reduction of potassium hydroxide to metallic potassium [10] may cause an increase in ρr for Picazine K, and, in this way, affect the value of the pore volume and total porosity.The porous structure of the carbons was analysed by low-temperature nitrogen adsorption. Adsorption-desorption isotherms were determined using ASAP 2020 Micromeritics instrument. The measurements were carried out at 77 K in the pressure rangep/p0 of 0.00001–0.999. Both active carbon isotherms are shown in Figure 2.Figure 2
Adsorption-desorption isotherm of active carbons.The volume of micropores (W0), characteristic energy of adsorption (E0), and surface area micropores (Smi) were determined according to Dubinin-Radushkevich equation [11], mesopores surface area (Sme) and volume mesopores (Vme) were determined by BJH method [12], and the specific surface was obtained using the BET equation. The results are summarized in Table 2.Table 2
Structural parameters of active carbons.
Active carbon
Picazine
Picazine K
BET surface area, m2/g
1462
2939
Total pore volume,Vt cm3/g, p/p0=0.99
1.024
1.488
Micropore volume,W0, cm3/g
0.494
1.001
Energy of adsorption,E0, kJ/kmol
16.22
17.77
Surface area micropores,Smi, m2/g
1392
2817
Mesopores surface area,Sme, m2/g (BHJ)
226
88
Volume mesopores,Vme, cm3/g (BHJ)
0.288
0.089The treatment of Picazine carbon with potassium hydroxide caused increase in its structural parameters. The highest increase was found in the case of micropores, surface area, and total pore volume. In consequence, the volume of mesopores decreases, so did their surface area. The increase in the characteristic adsorption energyE0 is mainly due to the narrowing of micropore size as a result of KOH reactivation. Using calculations micropore size by McEnaney equation [13] it was found that, for adsorption energy E0=16.22, size micropores amount to 0.40 nm, and, for E0=17.77, size equals 0.36 nm in slit pore model.The adsorbent obtained has significantly better structural properties than the initial active carbon.


### 3.3. Adsorption of Methane and Carbon Dioxide

For both active carbons, methane and carbon dioxide adsorption isotherms were determined using the volumetric method at a pressure of up to 3 MPa using an original measuring apparatus [14]. The measurement principle consisted in the expansion of a gas of known pressure and volume from the dosing space into the adsorbent containing ampoule. Figure 3 shows the apparatus for studying sorption and desorption gases under elevated pressures.Figure 3
Apparatus used for adsorption gases at elevated pressure. A: phial with adsorbent, T: thermostat, H: gas cylinder, W: feeder,P1, P2: pressure measurements, and Z1, Z2, and Z3: control valves.The determination of the so-called excess isotherms was carried out at 25°C. The molar volume of the gas for a given pressure and temperature was calculated using the Beattie-Bridgeman equation that well describes the state of methane and carbon dioxide in the studied pressure and temperature range [15].Figure4 presents excess adsorption isotherms of methane and carbon dioxide on the original and modified Picazine.Figure 4
Isotherms of methane and carbon dioxide on Picazine and Picazine K.Treating Picazine carbon with potassium hydroxide nearly doubled the adsorption capacity for CH4 and CO2, as calculated from 3.0 MPa isotherms.From the technical point of view, the purpose of Picazine K carbon in the pressure range 0–1.0 MPa may be CO2 separation from the biogas using the PSA method and coalmine gas or nitrogen-containing natural gas enrichment with methane.At a pressure of 3 MPa and beyond, additionally activated carbons may found application for storage of fuels and sequestration of CO2 [16].


## 3.1. Sieve Analysis

In order to determine the size distribution of the particles of both active carbons, size analysis was performed [7] for both active carbons (Figure 1).Figure 1
Sieve analysis of Picazine and Picazine K.
(a)
(b)The results, and the calculated values of the equivalent diameter, prove that Picazine carbon undergoes far-reaching disintegration as a result of high-temperature KOH treatment, and the product obtained shows two predominant particle sizes (ca. 0.2 and 0.7 mm). A change in the particle size of the active carbons, as well as the modification itself, significantly affects the values of different kind of densities.


## 3.2. Densities Measurements

Important properties of adsorbents are their densities: bulk density (ρn), apparent density (ρp), and real density (ρr). Bulk density was determined by Powder Characteristics Tester [8], apparent density was determined by using mercury displacement, and real density was determined by GeoPyc 1330 Envelope Density Analyzer [9].Pore volumes (V) for both carbons were calculated from ρp and ρr using the following equation:(1)V=1ρp-1ρr.Total porosity (εc) that includes the volume of interparticle space and the volume present inside adsorbent particles was determined from the following relation:(2)εc=1-ρnρr.The results of density determination and the values calculated from (1) and (2) are given in Table 1.Table 1
Densities, porosity, and total porosity of active carbons.
Properties
Picazine
Picazine K
Bulk density (ρn), g/cm3
0.204
0.120
Apparent density (ρp), g/cm3
0.450
0.325
Real density (ρr), g/cm3
1.777
2.669
Pore volume (V), cm3/cm3
1.660
2.702
Total porosity (εc), cm3/cm3
0.885
0.995It is clear from Table1 that the reduction of potassium hydroxide to metallic potassium [10] may cause an increase in ρr for Picazine K, and, in this way, affect the value of the pore volume and total porosity.The porous structure of the carbons was analysed by low-temperature nitrogen adsorption. Adsorption-desorption isotherms were determined using ASAP 2020 Micromeritics instrument. The measurements were carried out at 77 K in the pressure rangep/p0 of 0.00001–0.999. Both active carbon isotherms are shown in Figure 2.Figure 2
Adsorption-desorption isotherm of active carbons.The volume of micropores (W0), characteristic energy of adsorption (E0), and surface area micropores (Smi) were determined according to Dubinin-Radushkevich equation [11], mesopores surface area (Sme) and volume mesopores (Vme) were determined by BJH method [12], and the specific surface was obtained using the BET equation. The results are summarized in Table 2.Table 2
Structural parameters of active carbons.
Active carbon
Picazine
Picazine K
BET surface area, m2/g
1462
2939
Total pore volume,Vt cm3/g, p/p0=0.99
1.024
1.488
Micropore volume,W0, cm3/g
0.494
1.001
Energy of adsorption,E0, kJ/kmol
16.22
17.77
Surface area micropores,Smi, m2/g
1392
2817
Mesopores surface area,Sme, m2/g (BHJ)
226
88
Volume mesopores,Vme, cm3/g (BHJ)
0.288
0.089The treatment of Picazine carbon with potassium hydroxide caused increase in its structural parameters. The highest increase was found in the case of micropores, surface area, and total pore volume. In consequence, the volume of mesopores decreases, so did their surface area. The increase in the characteristic adsorption energyE0 is mainly due to the narrowing of micropore size as a result of KOH reactivation. Using calculations micropore size by McEnaney equation [13] it was found that, for adsorption energy E0=16.22, size micropores amount to 0.40 nm, and, for E0=17.77, size equals 0.36 nm in slit pore model.The adsorbent obtained has significantly better structural properties than the initial active carbon.


## 3.3. Adsorption of Methane and Carbon Dioxide

For both active carbons, methane and carbon dioxide adsorption isotherms were determined using the volumetric method at a pressure of up to 3 MPa using an original measuring apparatus [14]. The measurement principle consisted in the expansion of a gas of known pressure and volume from the dosing space into the adsorbent containing ampoule. Figure 3 shows the apparatus for studying sorption and desorption gases under elevated pressures.Figure 3
Apparatus used for adsorption gases at elevated pressure. A: phial with adsorbent, T: thermostat, H: gas cylinder, W: feeder,P1, P2: pressure measurements, and Z1, Z2, and Z3: control valves.The determination of the so-called excess isotherms was carried out at 25°C. The molar volume of the gas for a given pressure and temperature was calculated using the Beattie-Bridgeman equation that well describes the state of methane and carbon dioxide in the studied pressure and temperature range [15].Figure4 presents excess adsorption isotherms of methane and carbon dioxide on the original and modified Picazine.Figure 4
Isotherms of methane and carbon dioxide on Picazine and Picazine K.Treating Picazine carbon with potassium hydroxide nearly doubled the adsorption capacity for CH4 and CO2, as calculated from 3.0 MPa isotherms.From the technical point of view, the purpose of Picazine K carbon in the pressure range 0–1.0 MPa may be CO2 separation from the biogas using the PSA method and coalmine gas or nitrogen-containing natural gas enrichment with methane.At a pressure of 3 MPa and beyond, additionally activated carbons may found application for storage of fuels and sequestration of CO2 [16].


## 4. Conclusions

A significant increase in the adsorption capacity of Picazine active carbon, an active carbon manufactured on an industrial scale from wood, results from additional potassium hydroxide chemical activation.The carbon thus obtained possesses nearly double the adsorption capacity for methane and carbon dioxide. The porous structure parameters of the active carbon determined prior to and after the modification process correlate very well with the high-pressure adsorption values for both gases.The product of the reactivation may be used for instance for gaseous fuel storage and for separation of nonliquefying gases using the PSA method.



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