Characteristics and performance analysis of different grain sizes bamboo-activated carbons for motorcycle flue gas adsorption

Abstract

The use of fossil fuels in human activities such as motorcycles has led to an increase in the concentration emitted in the atmosphere. Various efforts and methods such as adsorption using activated carbon have been developed and applied to reduce the emission. Therefore, this study focuses on the characteristics and performance of bamboo-activated carbons in the adsorption of motorcycle flue gases. This was carried out using different grain sizes (z) of activated carbons AC-M1, AC-M2, and AC-M3 for grain sizes of z≤250, 250<z≤420, and 420<z≤590 microns, respectively, which were derived from swat bamboo and carbonized at a temperature of 750 ○C. Furthermore, physical activation was applied by heating the charcoal at the same temperature under a nitrogen flow rate of 150 mL/min nitrogen. The Thermogravimetric (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and adsorption isotherm tests were employed for the characterization of activated carbons. Additionally, the performances of activated carbons for motorcycle flue gas adsorption (CO2, CO, and HC) were carried out by a motorcycle emission test. According to the results, activated carbon AC-M1 produced the best characteristics and performance for adsorption of motorcycle flue gas, as it has a pore volume of 0.135 cm3/g, a specific surface area of 244.69 m2/g, and a nitrogen adsorption capacity of 87.047 cm3/g. These characteristics prove to have good adsorption efficiencies at 100 %, 87.30 %, and 100 % for adsorption of CO2, CO, and HC, respectively.