Preparation and characterization of black liquor-derived activated carbon by self-chemical activation

• Published in: Carbon Letters Vol. 30; no. 2; pp. 115 - 121
• Main Authors: Kim, Yong-Jung, Hong, Ikpyo, Shim, Joongpyo, An, Jung-Chul
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Singapore Springer Singapore 01.04.2020; 한국탄소학회; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Activated carbon; Adsorbents; Adsorption; Black liquor; Carbon; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Decomposition; Energy storage; Heat; Heat treatment; Heat treatments; Lignin; Liquor; Materials Engineering; Materials Science; Molecular weight; Nanotechnology; Nitrogen; Original Article; Porous materials; Retention; Retention time; Sodium; Specific surface; Surface area; Temperature; Waste materials; 자연과학일반; Biomass; Black liquor; Activated carbon; Self-chemical activation; Biomass. Activated carbon
• ISSN: 1976-4251; 2233-4998
• DOI: 10.1007/s42823-020-00132-2

A highly functional, environmentally friendly carbonaceous adsorbent material using black liquor (a by-product from the pulp manufacturing) was produced and characterized. This study showed the effect of self-chemical activation driven by inherent alkali, originated from the unique composition of black liquor. A preparation of the micropore-dominant activated carbon was made in an easy and simple manner. The specific surface areas of samples were found to be 718–1591 m 2 /g variated upon heat treatment conditions. The sample activated at 850 °C (50 min as retention time) showed the maximum specific surface area of 1591 m 2 /g with 13.6% as a production yield. Considering the factors influencing pore structure of activated carbon materials in this study, it was confirmed that mesopore-related surface area increased gradually as the activation temperature and retention time increased. It is noteworthy to address that economically valuable micropore-dominant activated carbon can be produced by a simple heat treatment of the waste material, black liquor. The activated carbon sample derived from black liquor can be applied to various fields, such as environment and energy storage.