Acid-activated carbons from almond shells: physical, chemical and adsorptive properties and estimated cost of production

A series of phosphoric-acid activated carbons were made from almond shells using six different activation or activation/oxidation methods. The carbons were compared to each other and to two commercial carbons in an effort to ascertain the relative value of the carbons in terms of yield, surface area , attrition, surface functional groups, organic uptake, metal uptake, as we ll as estimated cost of production. Of the six methods investigated, the me thod that produced the best overall performing almond shell carbon and leas t expensive carbon in terms of production cost was the "Air-Activation" met hod. This method involved the simultaneous activation and oxidation of almo nd shells under an air atmosphere. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.