CONCLUSION
Activated carbon samples were produced varying the process hold time, process
temperature, activating agent, activating agent: carbon char ratio, and carbon
precursor. These samples were then analyzed using the following screening methods:
observing the mass loss in chemical reaction, measuring carbon density, and measuring
methane uptake.
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It was observed that increasing the process hold time while decreasing the process
temperature and activating agent:carbon char ratio could produce carbons with similar
methane uptake, mass loss, and density as carbons reacted at lower process hold times
with higher temperatures and higher activating agent: char ratios. Chemical reaction
with NaOH produced carbons with similar mass loss, densities, and methane uptake to
carbons reacted with KOH.
However, chemical reaction with LiOH produced carbons which were inferior to carbons
produced from KOH reaction. Carbons derived from both walnut shells and red oak
sawdust outperformed carbons derived from corncobs on the rapid methane uptake
test, despite the fact that their final carbon density was slightly higher and their carbon
mass loss was slightly lower. These observations show that carbons produced from
reaction with NaOH, and carbons with walnut shells and red oak sawdust as a precursor
are all practical and possibly superior alternatives to carbons derived from corncobs and
reacted with KOH.