Preparation of a pitch-based activated carbon with a high specific surface area

Pitch based activated carbons (PAC) with a high specific surface area were produced by a direct chemical activation route in which oxidative stabilized pitch derived from ethylene tar oil was reacted with potassium hydroxide under various activation conditions. It was found that PACs with a surface area of around 2600–3600 m² g^-1 could be obtained under suitable activation conditions. N₂ adsorption (at 77 K) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy experiments showed that the PAC has a uniformly developed micropore structure and a narrow pore size distribution (radius 0.8–1.6 nm). Abundant oxygen-containing functional groups (such as C–OH, C–O–C, C=O, COOR etc.) were found to exist on its surface. Compared with a commercially available activated carbon (AC) and also a pitch based activated carbon fibre, PAC has a quicker adsorption–desorption velocity and a larger adsorptive capacity to benzene due to its higher surface area. Clear surface differences between PAC and AC were observed by transmission electron microscopy. This revised version was published online in November 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.