Porous structure and adsorptive properties of hide waste activated carbons prepared via potassium silicate activation

A novel activating agent, potassium silicate, was employed in the preparation of hide waste activated carbon. Effects of different activation temperatures and impregnation ratios on porous activated carbon evolution were evaluated by nitrogen adsorption/desorption. The BET specific surface area and pore volume of prepared activated carbon could attain 2046.12 m2/g and 1.068 cm3/g, when the process of preparation carried out at the best conditions (activation temperature of 700 °C and the impregnation ratio of 2:1). Methylene blue (MB) was selected as the adsorbate to evaluate its adsorption property. Adsorption results can be fitted well by the Langmuir isotherm, indicating the maximum monolayer adsorption capacity of MB reached to 769.23 mg/g.