Enhanced Catalytic Activity of a Coal-Based Powdered Activated Carbon by Thermal Treatment

Thermal treatment is simple and has high potential in activated carbon (AC) modification because its functional groups, structures, pores can be significantly modified. However, the changes characteristics of ACs, affecting catalytic activity, have not been investigated enough. Therefore, this study, a coal-based powdered AC (PAC) was thermally treated, characterized, subjected to removal an antibiotic (oxytetracycline, OTC). The PAC treated at 900 °C (PAC900) showed best OTC compared PACs under lower temperatures via both adsorption oxidation presence peroxymonosulfate (PMS). results N2 adsorption/desorption, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron Raman diffraction, Boehm titration increases basicity, specific surface area, graphitic structures with higher crystallinity more defects, C=O PAC900 PAC. Stronger signals DMPO-X TEMP-1O2 were shown for PAC900+PMS PAC+PMS electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. It suggested that thermal change PAC, which improves organic micropollutants removal. properties, performance, would provide important information about improvement carbonaceous catalysts.