Preparation and Characterization of Activated Carbon from Resak Wood (Vatica Hullettii ); Surface Area and Porosity Studies  

K. Anuar, Collin G. Joseph, Faujan B. H. Ahmad, Z. Zulkarnain,

Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Environmental Studies Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM, Serdang, (Malaysia)

Activated carbons from Resak wood were prepared by physical and chemical activation using CO2 and ZnCl2. A series of horizontal combustion at 500°C with various concentration of ZnCl2 were carried out. Data from surface area analysis of nitrogen adsorption at 77K showed that the surface area increase with the combustion temperature and the amount of ZnCl2 impregnation. The value of the surface area was constant after 15% impregnation solution. The optimum surface area (832 m2/g) was obtained at with 15% ZnCl2 concentration of the impregnation solution. The study also showed increment in pore size from micro to a mixture of micro and meso proportional to the amount of ZnCl2.

Activated carbon; carbonization; activation; surface area; porosity