Synthesis and Characterization of Porous Carbon from Petroleum Pitch Using KOH

Abstract

Preparation and process optimization of porous carbons using different carbon sources and activating agents are frequently and commonly reported in open literature. However, only scanty references are made on utilization of petroleum coke for conversion to high surface area porous carbon using KOH as the activating agent. Hence, the present work attempts a process optimization exercise to prepare high surface area porous carbon from Petroleum coke using chemical activation (KOH) utilizing design of experiments. The effect of activation temperature, petroleum coke to KOH ratio (KPR) and activation duration were assessed on the surface area and yield of the porous carbon. The process optimization was performed covering experimental parameters in the range of 500˚C-800˚C, 2-5 and 30-120 min. The optimal process conditions for maximizing the yield and BET surface area was identified to be an activation temperature of 639˚C, KPR of 4.5 and activation duration of 43 min, having BET surface area 1765 m 2 /g and yield of 89.8%. However, an attempt to maximize only the BET surface area, ignoring yield has resulted with a porous carbon with maximum surface area of 2061 m 2 /g, with the optimal process conditions being an activation temperature of 688˚C, KPR of 3.8 and activation duration of 74 min, with the corresponding yield of only 77%. The characterization of porous carbon was performed using nitrogen adsorption isotherm, FT-IR and SEM analysis.

Preparation of activated petroleum coke for supercapacitor application

“…The author reported that the yields of APC obtained using K 2 CO 3 are 60% to 65%, the porosity development was higher and the surface area sharply increased than that obtained using KOH. The petroleum coke surface area and pore volume was increased using KOH activation, which was reported by Srinivaskannan et al The author reported that at 639°C, potassium hydroxide to coke ratio of 4.5 and 43 minutes activation, the surface area and yield was enhanced to 1765 m 2 /g and 89.8%. Yang et al studied N‐doped carbons prepared by ammonia combined with KOH activation.…”

Activated Carbon Production by Co-Pyrolysis of Vacuum Residue and Gum Rosin

“…The image of AC0 sample derived from its precursor obtained by pyrolysis of pure VR shows large and small pore distribution and when compared with others, the pore development ws still not good yet because of the presence of denser structure in graphite layers. The appearance of white surface indicates that the presence of KOH that has not been removed perfectly during washing and neutralizing process [10]. The AC5, AC10, and AC15 corresponding to precursors prepared by co-pyrolysis of VR and gum rosin added 5, 10 and 15% weight of VR shows well developed pores, where there are differences in shapes and pore sizes.…”