Adsorption behavior of alcohol vapors on Zonguldak-Karadon coal derived porous carbons

ABSTRACT

A series of activated carbons were prepared from Zonguldak Karadon bituminous coal by single-step chemical activations with NaOH, KOH, ZnCl₂, and H₃PO₄ and investigated for the adsorption of two types of alcohols: isopropyl and ethyl alcohol. The effects of various preparation conditions, such as coal to activating agent ratio, temperature and time of carbonization on the final porous texture of the carbons were studied. Pore characterization of carbon samples was analyzed by the nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherm data recorded at 77 K. Adsorption behavior of alcohol vapors on various activated carbons was investigated using a volumetric apparatus at room temperature. The adsorption isotherm data were analyzed with various isotherm models. KOH activated carbon was found to yield the highest surface area and alcohol adsorption capacity. The highest surface area obtained was 1659 m²/g by KOH treatment of coal at 700°C. Adsorption capacity of carbon having the maximum surface area determined was 38.83 and 38.29% wt for isopropyl alcohol and ethyl alcohol, respectively.

KEYWORDS:

• Bituminous Karadon coal
• activated carbon
• chemical activation
• adsorption isotherms
• alcohol vapors

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Prof. Dr. Gülşen DOĞU, Gazi University, and Prof. Dr. Timur DOĞU, Middle East Technical University, Ankara-Turkey for their invaluable support and contribution through the research.

This work has been financially supported by State Planning Organization-Turkey (DPT) under contract DPT2003K121110, and Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University under contract BEUN Scientific Research Project 2008-13-02-02.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University [BEUN Scientific Research Project 2008-13-02-02];State Planning Organization-Turkey (DPT) [DPT2003K121110].

Notes on contributors

Fatma Oguz Erdogan

Fatma Oguz Erdogan was graduated from Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Department of Chemistry and achieved her Msc and PhD from the same university. She has been studying on production, characterization and surface modification of porous adsorbents. She is also interest in adsorption of gases, dyes and organic vapors on porous adsorbents. Now, she is Assistant professor at Kocaeli University, Kocaeli Vocational School, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Processing Technologies, Kocaeli, Turkey.

Turkan Kopac

Dr. Turkan Kopac received her B.Sc (1983) and M.Sc degrees (1985) in Chemical Engineering from the Middle East Technical University, and Ph.D in Chemical Engineering (1992) from Gazi University, Ankara Turkey. Her research activities focus on adsorption, catalysis, gas storage, nanomaterials. She has been serving as Professor since 2002 at the Department of Chemistry, Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University, Turkey. She is currently Visiting Professor at the Department of Chemical Engineering, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taipei.