Microporous activated carbon from pinewood and wheat straw by microwave-assisted KOH treatment for the adsorption of toluene and acetone vapors
Abstract
Pinewood and wheat straw activated carbons were prepared by KOH and microwave heating, and their adsorption properties were determined. The pinewood and wheat straw activated carbons achieved total pore volumes of 0.93 and 0.60 cm3 g−1, surface areas of 2044 and 1250 m2 g−1, as well as a high contribution of micropores of 75% and 76%, respectively, at a KOH/char ratio of 3.0, in less than 30 min at 600 W and in the presence of humidity. The adsorption properties of the activated carbons were quantified using toluene and acetone adsorption at 200 ppm and adsorption isotherms. Equilibrium isotherm data were fitted using the Dubinin–Radushkevich model.