Production of activated carbons from pyrolysis of waste tires impregnated with potassium hydroxide

Activated carbons were produced from waste tires using a chemical activatio n method. The carbon production process consisted of potassium hydroxide (K OH) impregnation followed by pyrolysis in N-2 at 600-900 degreesC for 0-2 h r. The:activation method can produce carbons with a surface area (SA) and t otal pore volume as high as 470 m(2)/g and 0.57 cm(3)/g, respectively. The influence of different parameters during chemical activation, such as pyrol ysis temperature, holding time, and KOH/tire ratio, on the carbon yield and the surface characteristics was explored, and the optimum preparation cond itions were recommended. The pore volume of the resulting carbons generally increases with the extent of carbon gasified by KOH and its derivatives, w hereas the SA increases with degree of gasification to reach a maximum valu e, and then decreases upon further gasification.