Preparation of activated carbon from sawdust by zinc chloride activation

A series of activated carbons were prepared from sawdust by zinc chloride activation in different operation conditions. The effects of operation parameters such as impregnation ratio, activation temperature and time on the adsorption properties of activated carbons were measured and analyzed in order to optimize these operation conditions. The experimental results show that under the experimental circumstances studied, both the yield and the adsorption for iodine and methylene blue of activated carbon can reach a relatively higher value in the chemical activation process with the impregnation ratio of 100% ZnCl(2)/sawdust in the activation temperature of 500 degrees C carbonized for 60-90 minutes which are the optimum activation conditions in making wood activated carbon. The most important operation parameter in chemical activation with zinc chloride was found to be the impregnation ratio.