title: Arundo donax cane as a precursor for activated carbons preparation by phosphoric acid activation.
abstract: Canes from Arundo donax, a herbaceous rapid-growing plant, were used as precursor for activated carbon preparation by phosphoric acid activation under a self-generated atmosphere. The influence of the carbonization temperature in the range 400-550 degrees C and of the weight ratio phosphoric acid to precursor (R = 1.5-2.5) on the developed porous structure of the resulting carbons was studied for 1 h of carbonization time. Surface properties of the activated carbons were dependent on a combined effect of the conditions employed. Carbons developed either with R = 1.5 over the range 400-500 degrees C, or with R = 2 at 500 degrees C exhibited surface areas of around 1100 m2/g, the latter conditions promoting a larger pore volume and enhanced mesoporous character. For both ratios, temperature above 500 degrees C led to reduction in porosity development. A similar effect was found for the highest ratio (R = 2.5) and 500 degrees C. The influence of carrying out the carbonization either for times shorter than 1 h or under flowing N2 was also examined at selected conditions (R = 2, 500 degrees C). Shorter times induced increase in the surface area (approximately 1300 m2/g), yielding carbons with smaller mean pore radius. Activated carbons obtained under flowing N2 possessed predominant microporous structures and larger ash contents than the samples derived in the self-generated atmosphere.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Investigación y Desarrollo de Fuentes Alternativas de Materias Primas y Energía--PINMATE, Departamento de Industrias, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Intendente Guiraldes, Ciudad Universitaria, Argentina.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vernersson
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Bonelli
authors.forename: E G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Cerrella
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Cukierman
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000379:methods; D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry; D017554:Carbon Compounds, Inorganic / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D007700:Kinetics; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000737:chemistry; D010100:Oxygen; D010756:Phosphoric Acids / Q000737:chemistry*; D006109:Poaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D011312:Pressure; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D017554:Carbon Compounds, Inorganic; D010756:Phosphoric Acids; D002244:Carbon; C030242:phosphoric acid; D009584:Nitrogen; D010100:Oxygen