Pore structure and adsorption characteristics of steam pyrolysis carbons from Moringa oleifera

✍ Scribed by A.M. Warhurst; G.D. Fowler; G.L. McConnachie; S.J.T. Pollard

• Book ID: 104107101
• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1997
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 842 KB
• Volume: 35
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0008-6223
• DOI: 10.1016/s0008-6223(97)00053-5

✦ Synopsis

A series of activated carbons has been prepared from the waste seed husks of the tropical multi-purpose tree Moringa oleifera, using a single-stage steam pyrolysis activation. Carbons were characterised by N, adsorption, CHN analysis and scanning electron microscopy. Nitrogen adsorption isotherms were analysed by the BET, t-plot and Horvath and Kawazoe methods. All the carbons were microporous, with those activated at 750°C for 120 minutes (750/120) and 800°C for 30 or 60 minutes having the highest BET surface areas, of 730, 713 and 774 m2 g-', respectively. A simple acid rinse of the 8OO"C/30 minutes carbon increased the surface area to 932 mZ g-l. The 800/60 carbon had the highest mesopore and macropore surface area, 135.7 m2 g-', compared to 92.7 m2 g-' for the 800/30 carbon. Scanning electron micrographs of the 800/30 carbon showed a lignocellulosic macropore structure, cleaned by the steam pyrolysis.

These results show that it is possible to produce a high quality microporous activated carbon from M. oleifera husks using a simple single-stage steam pyrolysis activation.