Catalyst – solid sorbent – or support therefor: product or process – Irradiation by – or application of – electrical – magnetic or...
Patent
1992-06-18
1994-11-15
Konopka, Paul E.
Catalyst, solid sorbent, or support therefor: product or process
Irradiation by, or application of, electrical, magnetic or...
201 19, 502416, 502437, 502522, B01J 3734, B01J 2020, C01B 3110
Patent
active
053648218
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention is concerned with active (or "activated") carbon, and the production thereof.
Active carbon is an amorphous form of carbon characterised by high internal porosity, and consequently high adsorptivity either for gases and vapours, or for liquids. Active carbon is typically obtained by the pyrolysis of wood, nut shells, animal bones or other carbonaceous material, and "activation" by heating to 800-900 degrees Celsius using steam or carbon dioxide.
According to the present invention, there is provided a method of production of active carbon, which comprises pyrolysing a carbonaceous material by subjecting said material to a microwave discharge (such that the material attains a temperature of at left 800 degrees Celsius), in an atmosphere which is such that flame generation is substantially prevented, acid washing if the pyrolysed product contains substantial quantities of sulphur or metal values, and activating the resultant product by treating at an elevated temperature with superheated steam and/or carbon dioxide. The elevated temperature achieved during activation is preferably at least 800 degrees Celsius.
The carbonaceous starting material preferably contains carbon black. Preferred materials include carbon-filled rubber, such as waste tire compound. Following pyrolysis, the latter will generally contain substantial quantities of sulphur and metal values, and is therefore subjected to acid washing prior to the activation with superheated steam and/or carbon dioxide.
Other possible carbonaceous materials include sewage, waste vegetable matter or the like. When the carbonaceous material to be pyrolysed is susceptible to microwaves, then the pyrolysis is preferably as described in my PCT specification WO89/04355; when the material is not susceptible to microwaves, then the pyrolysis is preferably as described in my PCT specification WO88/08871. The whole contents of these two prior specifications are hereby incorporated by reference.
The product of the pyrolysis stage is preferably raised to the elevated temperature used during activation by microwave treatment.
The micro-porosity of active carbon derived from such carbonaceous material depends on the percentage weight loss of the pyrolysed material during the activation stage. The active carbon has maximum micro-porosity after a reduction in weight of at least 30% and less than 70% (such as 30 to 60%). When the weight loss is 70% or more, the majority of the carbon material is removed and the measured porosity is significantly impaired.
Similarly, the surface area of the active carbon increases to a maximum value when 30-60% weight loss has occurred.
When it is desired to wash to remove metal values and/or sulphur, a suitable acid is hydrochloric acid; acid washing is preferably followed by neutralisation (for example, with caustic soda or the like) and washing with water or other aqueous liquid to remove the resulting neutral salts.
The resulting active carbon, which is typically used for filtration of liquids, generally has a holding power equal to at least 15% by weight of the active carbon. The present invention therefore further comprises a filter for liquid filtration which comprises a receptacle having therein a body of active carbon produced by the method according to the invention.
Preferred features of the present invention will be further illustrated in the following Example, in which reference is made to FIGS. 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of apparatus employed for activation of carbon in the method according to the invention;
FIG. 2 shows a Langmuir Adsorption Isotherm for nitrogen measured at 77 degrees Celsius, of microwave pyrolysed tire compound;
FIG. 3 shows a series of Langmuir Adsorption Isotherms for nitrogen, each isotherm resulting from a sample of active carbon produced according to the invention, having a percentage weight loss (burn off) in the range of 20 to 70%; and
FIG. 4 shows a carbon dioxide isotherm for microwave pyrolysed tire compound; and
FIG. 5 s
REFERENCES:
patent: 3822218 (1974-07-01), Whittaker et al.
patent: 3823221 (1974-07-01), Wakefield et al.
patent: 3823224 (1974-07-01), Lamay et al.
patent: 3843457 (1974-10-01), Grannen et al.
patent: 3875077 (1975-04-01), Sanga
patent: 4118282 (1978-10-01), Wallace
patent: 4647443 (1987-03-01), Apfel
Chem. Abs., vol. 86 No. 10, p. 75 56668s, 7 Mar. 1977.
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