title: Effect of activation temperature on the textural and chemical properties of potassium hydroxide activated carbon prepared from pistachio-nut shell.
abstract: The effect of activation temperature on the textural and chemical properties of activated carbons prepared from pistachio-nut shells by potassium hydroxide activation was studied. Relatively high activation temperature was required to develop high porosities. However, too high an activation temperature resulted in the burn-off of the carbon structures and the widening of micropores to meso- and macropores. The microstructures and microcrystallinities of the carbons prepared were examined using a scanning electron microscope and a powder X-ray diffraction analyzer, respectively, while the Fourier transform infrared spectra indicated the changes in the surface functional groups that were formed during the different preparation stages.
authors.affiliation: School of Mechanical and Production Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798, Singapore. maclua@ntu.edu.sg
authors.forename: Aik Chong
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Lua
authors.forename: Ting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yang