ADSORPTION PROPERTIES AND MICROPOROUS STRUCTURE OF ADSORBENTS PRODUCED FROM PHENOLIC RESIN AND BIOMASS

Mixtures of novolac resin and olive stone biomass in proportions 20 : 80 (w : w) are cured, pyrolyzed up to 1000 degrees C (material C20), a nd activated with steam (material C20a). The adsorption properties of these materials and a commercial activated carbon (CC) are investigate d based on the adsorption of nitrogen and pentane. The adsorption capa city, the surface area determined by the BET and DRK equation, and the pore volume determined as micropore volume by the DR equation, and as cumulative pore volume related to the Kelvin equation, for the materi als follow the order C20a, CC > C20. The DR equation can be applied fo r the adsorption of nitrogen on the materials examined in the region o f PIPo = 0.005 up to 0.3 that exceeds in both sides the common range f or the applicability of the DR equation. The activated materials C20a and CC are mainly microporous and reveal the type I isotherms of the B runauer classification for nitrogen adsorption. The only pyrolyzed mat erial, C20, contains both micropores and mesopores and reveals charact eristics of both types I and II. The number of layers for C20a and CC is lower than 2 and for C20 is more than 2. (C) 1995 John Wiley & Sons , Inc.