High-surface-area activated carbon from Chinese coal

Activated carbons from Chinese coals have been prepared by chemical activation technology with potassium hydroxide. This paper analyzed the following aspects: raw material and its particle size, preoxidation treatment of the raw material, activation agent, activation temperature and time, and activation agent/coal ratio. Activated carbon with BET N-2 surface area of the order of 2400 m(2)/g, substantal microporosity and total pore volume of over 1.40 cm(3)/g, and methylene blue adsorption capacity of over 440 mg/g, was obtained.