Preparation of porous carbons from non-metallic fractions of waste printed circuit boards by chemical and physical activation

Non-metallic fractions of FR-3 type waste printed circuit boards were pyrolyzed at high temperatures. The resultant char at 600 °C was used to prepare activated carbons by physical and chemical activation. The influence of pyrolysis temperature on char yields, and activation conditions on the burn-off and porous properties of the activated carbons were investigated. Results show that char yields decrease with pyrolysis temperature. A granular activated carbon with a surface area of 1019 m2 g−1 and a pore volume of 1.1 cm3 g−1 can be obtained by moulding, pyrolysis and physical activation using H2O as an activation agent. An activated carbon powder with a surface area of 3112 m2 g−1 and a pore volume of 1.13 cm3 g−1 can be achieved by KOH activation.