Abstract
Porous carbon samples were prepared from falcata (Albizia falcataria), which is a wood material that has become popular recently, at different carbonization temperatures, and their abilities to adsorb trichloroethylene (TCE) in aqueous solutions were evaluated. The iodine adsorption number of porous carbons prepared from falcata at 800°C was higher than the number for samples prepared at other temperatures. The specific surface area and pore volume were the largest at 900°C carbonization, 444m2 g−1 and 0.196mL g−1, respectively. Porous carbon prepared from falcata at 800°C, which had the smallest mean pore diameter of all the prepared porous carbon samples, had the greatest TCE adsorption capacity. Its TCE adsorption capacity was higher than the capacity of activated carbons that are commercially available. The TCE isotherm data also suggest that porous carbon prepared from falcata at 800°C has more pores suitable for TCE adsorption than those of commercial activated carbons. Therefore, adsorption capacities of trace organic pollutants in aqueous solution cannot be predicted only from BET surface area or total pore volumes. These results showed that the porous carbons prepared from falcata can be used for the remediation of groundwater contaminated with TCE.
