CHARACTERIZATION OF ACTIVATED CARBON PRODUCED FROM ALMOND SHELL AND HAZELNUT SHELL

Ammonium chloride-impregnated and untreated almond shell and hazelnut shell samples were carbonized in a flow of nitrogen at relatively low temperatures. Pore structure characterization and sorption capacities of activated carbons prepared from shells of almond and hazelnut indic ated that treatment with NH4Cl increased the total surface area and im proved sorption characteristics. Chemical activation carried out at 35 0-degrees-C gave products with surface area values above 500 m2 g-1. O n the other hand, the surface area values observed for the products ob tained from untreated raw materials were about half of this value. The surface area of products obtained from NH4Cl-impregnated samples reac hed values of over 700 m2 g-1 when the carbonization temperature was i ncreased 700-degrees-C.