Modified Composite Activated Carbon Derived from Post-Consumer Plastics and Lignocellulosic Materials

The composite activated carbons were produced using both lignocellulosic materials and urban waste plastics and their characteristics were investigated. The mixture of raw material was first carbonized at 600ºC in N2 atmosphere. The char obtained was then mixed with KOH (in the ratio 2:1 for KOH/char) before the activation process with steam at 850ºC. The results show that composite carbons are micro, mesoporous and have higher carbon yield compared to the carbons from both pure raw materials, which are mainly mesoporous. These results were confirmed by their high adsorption of methylene blue. BET surface area for all the samples were over the acceptable range (991.5 - 1412.9). Moreover, the average size of the pores of carbon between in the range of 1.8 – 2.3 nm. Carbon surfaces were analyzed in detail using FTIR and SEM, exhibiting hydroxyl and carboxylic functional groups on the surfaces and cavities of mesopore size.