Volume 44, Issue 9 pp. 1604-1617
Research Article

Effect of Citric Acid and Sodium Chloride on Characteristics of Sunflower Seed Shell-Derived Activated Carbon

Ayoob Bahiraei

Ayoob Bahiraei

Razi University, Advanced Chemical Engineering Research Center, Faculty of Petroleum and Chemical Engineering, Kermanshah, Iran

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Jamshid Behin

Corresponding Author

Jamshid Behin

Razi University, Advanced Chemical Engineering Research Center, Faculty of Petroleum and Chemical Engineering, Kermanshah, Iran

Correspondence: Jamshid Behin ([email protected]), Advanced Chemical Engineering Research Center, Faculty of Petroleum and Chemical Engineering, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran.Search for more papers by this author
First published: 21 June 2021
Citations: 3

Abstract

Micro- and mesoporous activated carbons (ACs) with ultrahigh surface area were synthesized from sunflower seed shells (SSS) by carbonization followed by KOH activation. The effects of citric acid (CA) in both carbonization and activation and of sodium chloride (NaCl) in the activation step were evaluated through the response surface method. Na atoms produced during activation can diffuse in the carbon texture and intensify the role of K atoms in expanding and creating new microporosity, whereas its combination with CA results in a significant proportion of mesopores. CA sequestrates metal ions and facilitates the decomposition of lignocellulosics, which prevents the formation of heavy tar blocking the pores. A high capacity for CO2 adsorption was also observed for the NaCl-activated sample which was higher than that reported previously.

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