Production of granular activated carbons from loquat stones by chemical activation

This paper describes the production of activated carbons by chemical activation with KOH and NaOH of the chars obtained through carbonization of loquat stones at 600 °C. The chars in the 1.0–2.0 mm size range were activated at carbonization temperatures ranging from 600 °C to 1000 °C, heating rate of 10 °C/min and a char/chemical agent mass ratio of 1/2 under nitrogen flow. In addition, activated carbons were prepared from chars in the 1.0–2.0 mm and <0.5 mm size ranges at a char to KOH ratio of 1/4 at a carbonization temperature of 800 °C. Structural characterization of the activated carbons was performed by nitrogen adsorption at −196 °C.