Adsorption Properties of Activated Carbons Obtained from Styrene-Divinylbenzene Mesoporous Copolymer

A series of mesoporous activated carbons was obtained from styrene-divinylbenzene copolymer (Amberlit XAD-4, Rohm and Haas Co., USA) upon carbonization at 500 degrees C or 700 degrees C followed by activation in CO2 at three temperatures: 700 degrees C, 750 degrees C and 800 degrees C for 5 h, 3 h and 0.5 h, respectively. The resulting carbonizate and activated carbons were characterized by specific surface area varying from 350 to 880 m(2)/g, micropore volume - from 0.10 to 0.32 cm(3)/g, and, most importantly, the mesopore volume from 0.56 to 0.79 cm(3)/g. The mesoporosity in the activated carbons was estimated at about 75%, indicating that the mesoporous resin structure was preserved during the carbonization process. The carbons received featured relatively good adsorption properties with respect to carbon dioxide (0 degrees C and 25 degrees C) and benzene (20 degrees C). The highest adsorption obtained for CO2 was 2.37 mmol/g at 0 degrees C (1.0 atm), and 1.38 mmol/g at 25 degrees C (1.1 atm), while for benzene it was 8.45 mmol/g at 20 degrees C (saturation vapor pressure). In particular, benzene adsorption capacity was very good, indicating that the activated carbons could be utilized for adsorption of volatile organic compounds.