Preparation of Activated Carbons from Polycarbonate with Chemical Activation Using the Response Surface Methodology

摘要

The disposal of waste plastics is a major environmental issue in the world. In this paper, polycarbonate (PC) particles in the size range of 0.59-0.85 mm were pyrolyzed to produce activated carbons, as adsorbents for gas purification and solvent recovery or applicable to adsorption heat pumps. Central composite rotatable design has been applied to optimize the experimental conditions of the preparation of activated carbons by KOH activation at 500 ℃, with pyrolyzing time and KOH/PC ratio being variables. The characteristics of activated carbons obtained were determined by the adsorption of liquid nitrogen. The experimental response of BET surface area varied from 347.5 to 814.6 m 2 /g, and other responses such as pore volume and size were also studied.