Activated carbons from mixtures of coal pitch and FeCl3-graphite intercalated compounds

Processing of granular and powdered activated carbons was performed by carbonization of coal pitch (precursor) loaded with natural polycrystalline graphite particles initially intercalated by iron (III) chloride (chemical activator). The resulting char was steam activated at high temperature. Interactions of hydrogen sulfide and molecular oxygen with the microporous material were studied by means of isothermal adsorption on the pulverized carbon and by temperature-programmed desorption. The results suggest that chemisorption and catalytic oxidation of hydrogen sulfide occur on basic sites resulting from the chemisorption of molecular oxygen on to the iron (II, III) oxide and on the carbon surface.