Pomegranate peels as a precursor for activated carbon by phosphoric acid and steam activation: Carbonization temperature and time effects

Activated carbon has been prepared from pomegranate peels using phosphoric acid and steam as activating agents. The influence of activation temperature and time on the yield, the pore structure and the adsorption capacities of the prepared activated carbon was investigated The samples were characterized using N₂ adsorption at 77 K, Boehm method and adsorption of iodine, phenol and methylene blue in aqueous solution. The adsorption-desorption isotherms showed that activated carbons are essentially microporous solids. The micropores volume occupies 97% from total pore volume. The activated carbons showed the BET surface area varies from 880 to 1819 m²/g. The final carbons exhibit high adsorption capacity for iodine, méthylène blue and phenol The iodine number varies between 689-1446 mg/g. The adsorbed quantity of phenol and methylene blue achieved respectively 44 mg/g and 440 mg/g.