Dense Microporous and Mesoporous Activated Carbon Produced from Rice Husk and Beet Sugar

Abstract

An activated carbon with a high microporosity and mesoporosity, as well as a high bulk density, was fabricated by activating the extrusion-molded precursor made from carbonized rice husk (RH) and beet sugar (BS) at 850℃ in CO 2 . The pore structure of the activated carbon based on the mixture of RH and BS (RHBSAC) was analyzed in relation to the bulk density. The extrusion molding was very useful to increase the bulk density. RHBSAC which was first activated for 1 h was immersed again in the BS syrup and then activated in CO 2 for 2 h. This two-step activation process provided both a high bulk density (0.93 g/cm 3 ) and a microporous and mesoporous structure (BET specific surface area: 844 m 2 /g, total pore volume: 0.53 cm 3 /g, micropore volume: 0.29 cm 3 /g, and mesopore volume: 0.19 cm 3 /g).