Use of vegetable oils and fatty acid methyl esters in the production of spherical activated carbons

The possibility of using vegetable oils, i.e., rapeseed oil, soybean oil, linseed oil, tung oil, castor oil and dehydroxylated castor oil, and the fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) obtained from them, for the agglomeration of bituminous coals was investigated. Both vegetable oils and FAMEs were found to be suitable bridging liquids for the production of spherical agglomerates-precursor of spherical activated carbons. By replacing the petroleum and coal derivatives commonly used in coal granulation with liquids of natural origin the environmental nuisance in the production of activated carbon can be reduced. Coal agglomerates produced using vegetable oils and FAME, and subjected to carbonisation and activation with steam became spherical activated carbons characterised by well-developed porous structures, marked mechanical strength, and good sorption properties determined by the standard tests of methylene blue and iodine adsorption from aqueous solutions. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.