Microwave-Catalyzed Conversion of Phenolic Resin Waste to Activated Carbon and Its Applications for Removing Ammonium from Water

The influences of reactive and dielectric characteristics activators were investigated in the microwave-catalyzed conversion phenolic resin waste to activated carbon (AC). To compare with interactions microwaves treated samples, conventional electric heating for AC carbonization was also conducted parallel. porosity chemical features prepared examined, used remove ammonium from water through adsorption. results revealed that KOH-activated wastes developed a highly porous structure, whereas H3PO4 functionalized surficial phosphate groups. Both these more pronounced cases than those using heating. Because intense H3PO4-activated microwave, abundant functional groups formed on surface during carbonization. They facilitated resulting as an effective adsorbent aqueous ammonium.