An overview of methods for the characterization of activated carbons

Abstract

The adsorption of Ne (77 K), CO2. (273 K) and the preadsorption of n-nonane have been used to characterize two series of activated carbons covering a very wide range of micropore size distribution. The results show that the α method applied to the nitrogen isotherms provides the total micropore volume whereas the n-nonane preadsorption or the DR method applied to the CO2isotherms can yield the volume of narrow micropores. In this way the distinction between narrow and wide micropores in activated carbons can be achieved using a rather simple experimental procedure. © 1989, Walter de Gruyter. All rights reserved.