Abstract
This investigation is concerned with developing a process to produce activated carbon from polyvinyl alcohol.
The carbonization yield of polyvinyl alcohol was 4-9 weight percent.
In order to increase the carbonization yield various kind of additives were tested. Among them concentrated sulfuric acid was found to be most effective to increase carbonization yield.
Polyvinyl alcohol pretreated with concentrated sulfuric acid at 170°C was activated with steam under fluidized conditions at 850°C for 150 min . The activated carbon yield was 21-23 weight percent and its properties were as follows: methylene blue adsorbability; 300-400mg/g, internal surface area; 1, 400-1, 700mg/g.
