Preparation of Ubamegashi Activated Carbon by Using Superheated Steam Carbonization/Activation Processes

Abstract

Activated carbons (ACs) were produced from Ubamegashi by superheated steam carbonization/activation processes. The effects of preparation conditions (i.e., carbonization/activation temperature, carbonization/activation time, and flow rate of superheated steam) on the textural properties of activated carbons were evaluated by N₂ adsorption/desorption analysis. The yield of the prepared AC decreases with increase of carbonization/activation temperature, carbonization/activation time, and the flow rate of superheated steam. The optimum condition on the prepared activated carbon was decided the carbonization/activation temperature of 850°C, and carbonization/activation time of 1 h, and the flow rate of superheated steam of 1 g/min. The surface morphological observation of the carbide and activated carbon was performed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The adsorption studies on the activated carbon which was prepared under the optimum condition (O-AC) were conducted for adsorption capacities of methylene blue (MB) and methyl orange (MO). The equilibrium adsorption data well fitted by the Langmuir isotherm equation. The maximum adsorbed amount of MB and MO was 322.6 and 384.6 mg/g, respectively. Therefore, it suggests that Ubamegashi based AC by using superheated steam carbonization/activation process would be useful as an industrial adsorbent of dyes.