Activated carbon from hydrolysis lignin: Effect of activation method on carbon properties

This study presents the effects of different activation methods to produce activated carbon from hydrolysis lignin. Pretreatment feedstock with common mineral acids (HCL, HNO3, and H3PO4), steam rates for physical activation, chemical activating agents (ZnCl2, Na2CO3, KOH) were investigated. The pretreated biomass was carbonized in one-stage process surface characteristics, such as total pore volume, size distribution specific area, results showed that properties not greatly affected by acid pretreatment. Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) areas high 616 m2/g could be achieved 2054 activation. Different selected interval (0.5–2 cm3/min) did change but had small positive effect on while ZnCl2 increased mesoporosity, KOH microporosity oxygen groups form ether alcohol bonds.