PRODUCTION OF ACTIVATED CARBON FROM WASTE TEA BY CHEMICAL ACTIVATION WITH MICROWAVE ENERGY

摘要

The study has focused on the production of activated carbon from waste tea. Activated carbons were prepared by phosphoric acid activation with and without microwave treatment and carbonization of waste tea in nitrogen atmosphere at various temperatures, at different acid/precursor impregnation ratios. The surface properties of the carbons were investigated by elemental analysis, BET surface area, SEM, FTIR and TGA. Prior to heat treatment conducted in the furnace, the waste tea and H{sub}3PO{sub}4 mixture was treated with microwave heating. The maximum BET surface area was 1157 m{sup}2/g for the sample obtained from carbonization at 350°C followed by microwave treatment.