In order to obtain basic data for manufacture of porous carbon materials from various woody wastes, porous carbons were prepared from wood of the Japanese cypress by carbonizing at 900°C and the effect of holding time at 900°C on the properties of the carbons obtained were examined.
A slight amount of air entered the vessel for carbonization during the heat treatment at 900°C and an activation reaction occurred and weight loss of the carbon was observed. The weight loss corresponded with a formation of micropores in the carbon. The pore-size distribution curve in macropore and mesopore ranges of the carbons was similar to that of a commercial activated carbon. An increase of holding time at 900°C caused a development of mesopores. In macropore range, an increase of holding time at 900°C caused a lowering of the height of peak at 500nm radius and an increase of the height of peak at 1500nm radius. The change of macropore distribution was not appreciably followed by weight change. Porous carbon with similar adsorptive capacity as commercial activated carbon could be prepared by prolonged heating at 900°C.
