WOOD RESEARCH Volume 68, Number 2, 2023
Young-Kyu Lee, Ohkyung Kwon, Wonsil Choi, Myoungcheol Moon, Jae Min So, Vilasit Thithai, Joon Weon Choi, Daye Kim, and In Yang

Volatile organic compounds and metals adsorption capacity of wood bark-based activated carbons

This study was conducted to investigate the applicability of wood bark-based activated carbon (AC) for the adsorption of metal ions and volatile organic compounds (VOC) from the atmosphere. Contents of Fe and Al in the AC made with coconut shell, and the bark of larch and cork oak (CSA, LBA and COA, respectively) were higher than those of the unexposed AC and increased with the exposure to various indoor/outdoor spaces when compared to the unexposed AC. However, Fe and Al contents of the exposed AC, which is a coal-based one used as a control (SAA), were lower and scarcely higher than the unexposed SAA. From the results, it is evident that the wood bark-based AC examined in this study is more effective to adsorb metals than SAA. The SEM-EDS analysis exhibited prominent metal-adsorptivity of COA, although its total surface area and pore volume were lower than those of SAA. Total VOC-adsorptivity was the highest in COA followed by CSA, CBA (cypress bark activated carbon), LBA and SAA. In conclusion, wood bark-based AC can be utilized as an effective adsorbent for the removal of metals and VOC from the atmosphere. The optimum AC is COA, an industrial by-product, in view of the techno-economic aspect.

WOOD RESEARCH Volume 62, Number 2, 2017
Beata Doczekalska, Agata Pawlicka, Krzysztof Kuśmierek, Andrzej Świątkowski, and Monika Bartkowiak

Adsorption of 4-chlorophenol from aqueous solution on activated carbons derived from hornbeam wood

The adsorption of 4-chlorophenol (4-CP) from aqueous solution on activated carbons prepared from hornbeam wood was studied. The adsorption kinetic data were analyzed using pseudo-first order and pseudo-second order models. The adsorption kinetics of 4-CP was better represented by the pseudo-second order equation. The equilibrium adsorption data were described by Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms and the results showed that both models fitted well the 4-CP adsorption; nevertheless, a slightly higher R2 values were observed for the Langmuir model. The effects of solution pH and ionic strength on the adsorption were so investigated. The high 4-CP adsorption capacity (2.71–4.37 mmol.g-1) shows that hornbeam wood is a good precursor for the preparation of activated carbons for the adsorptive removal of organic contaminants.

WOOD RESEARCH Volume 63, Number 6, 2018
Oswaldo Moreno-Anguiano, José G. Rutiaga-Quiñones, Francisco Márquez-Montesino, José Luis Rico-Cerda, and Artemio Carrillo-Parra

Performance of activated carbon obtained from pine wood and determination of its adsorption capacities of ammonia and gasoline vapors

Two types of pine wood were used to produce activated carbon (AC) by chemical activation with phosphoric acid. The yield of the activated carbon (CAs) obtained by considering the following factors in the process: species, activation temperature and impregnation ratio (R = wood mass/dissolution mass), the variables of such factors being the species Pinus pseudostrobus (Pp) and Pinus leiophylla (Pl), temperature values 400 and 500°C, and values of R (1:1, 1:2, 1:3), respectively, thus having 12 combinations. The results indicate that the best performance was in the treatment with Pp 400°C and with R = 1:1. A surface area of 790 and 801 m2.g-1 and a total pore volume of 0.312 and 0.316 cm3.g-1 were obtained for the Pp 500-2 and Pl 500-2 carbons, respectively. Likewise, the adsorption capacity of ammonia and gasoline vapors of the carbon obtained was determined.