Production of carbonaceous adsorbents by using novolac‐resin and cottonseed

Abstract

Mixtures of novolac resin with pressed cottonseed in different proportions after their curing as small cylinders, and also pressed cottonseed as powder were pyrolyzed until 1000°C. Some samples follow, as well as an activation process by steam between 700 and 950°C. The weight losses of the samples are much higher, up to 500°C, while small weight losses are observed over 800°C. The weight losses for the 100% pressed cottonseed during the carbonization are essentially higher than those of the specimens also containing novolac; indeed, for the total weight losses up to 1000°C an increasing linear dependence was found with increasing proportion of the cottonseed in its mixture with novolac. The shrinkage of the specimens also containing novolac follows in general a curve similar to that of the weight losses for the corresponding case. The specific surface areas of the carbonaceous materials produced show higher values with measuring by CO₂ than by N₂ due to the larger dimensions of the N₂ molecule as compared to the CO₂ molecule, so that N₂ areas are more sensitive to slight changes in aperture sizes of the porous materials produced. The specific surface areas of the materials that have also been activated indicate higher values in comparison with those without activation and also higher than activated carbon commercially available. The more increased and fine porous structure of the activated carbons as compared to those only pyrolyzed become also obvious from the corresponding photos obtained by the scanning electron microscope. These results are also in agreement with the discoloring ability of the produced adsorptive media for the methylene blue from aqueous solution, following the Freundlich equation for the adsorption.