Rapid Pyrolysis of Pulverized Coal for the Preparation of Nanostructured Powder Activated Coke

Abstract

By rapid pyrolysis of pulverized coal in oxygen and steam atmosphere, powder activated coke (PAC) nanostructured carbon material was derived by one step. Then, nitrogen adsorption measurement, scanning electric measurement (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) test were conducted to analyse the detail characteristic of the obtained PACs. The results showed that the one-step pulverized coal rapid pyrolysis process was an effective method for the production of PAC powders. The mixture of oxygen and steam as the activating agent was essential during the pyrolysis progress. Oxygen act as the most important fast activating agent for the pore formation, while steam activation protected the material matrix and weakly affected pore growth. The composition and concentration of oxygen and steam had a great effect on pore structure, surface micromorphology and functional groups of PACs. The mixed oxygen and steam atmosphere exhibited a tightly tailored micropore structure. By further optimizing activating oxygen and steam composition, the PAC products could have considerable pore structures, respectable surface morphology and functional groups.