Interconnected Micro, Meso, and Macro Porous Activated Carbon from Bacterial Nanocellulose for Superior Adsorption Properties and Effective Catalytic Performance
Arnon Khamkeaw, Tatdanai Asavamongkolkul, Tianpichet Perngyai, Bunjerd Jongsomjit, Muenduen Phisalaphong
Abstract
The porous carbon (bacterial cellulose (BC)-activated carbon (AC)(BA)) prepared via two-step activation of bacterial nanocellulose by treatments with potassium hydroxide (KOH) and then phosphoric acid (H3PO4) solutions showed superior adsorption properties and effective performance as catalyst support. BC-AC(BA) had an open and interconnected multi-porous structure, consisting of micropores (0.23 cm3/g), mesopores (0.26 cm3/g), and macropores (4.40 cm3/g). The BET surface area and porosity were 833 m2/g and 91.2%, respectively. The methylene blue adsorption test demonstrated that BC-AC(BA) was superior in its mass transfer rate and adsorption capacities. Moreover, BC-AC(BA) modified by H3PO4 treatment showed a significant enhancement of catalytic performance for dehydration of ethanol. At the reaction temperature of 250–400 °C, 30P/BC-AC(BA) gave ethanol conversion at 88.4–100%, with ethylene selectivity of 82.6–100%, whereas, high selectivity for diethyl ether (DEE) at 75.2%, at ethanol conversion of 60.1%, was obtained at the reaction temperature of 200 °C.