Spent coffee-based activated carbon: Specific surface features and their importance for H₂S separation process

• Published in: Journal of hazardous materials 2012-01, Vol.201 (30), p.141-147
• Main Authors: Kante, Karifala, Nieto-Delgado, Cesar, Rangel-Mendez, J. Rene, Bandosz, Teresa J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Activated carbon; Activation; Adsorption; air; Air Pollutants - isolation & purification; caffeine; Carbon; Charcoal - chemistry; Coffea - chemistry; Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy; Hydrogen sulfide; Hydrogen Sulfide - isolation & purification; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; nitrogen; organic wastes; oxidation; Porosity; Refuse Disposal; scanning electron microscopy; Seeds - chemistry; Separation; Specific surface; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; Surface chemistry; Surface Properties; thermal analysis; Thermogravimetry; zinc
• ISSN: 0304-3894; 1873-3336
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2011.11.053

Activated carbons were prepared from spent ground coffee. Zinc chloride was used as an activation agent. The obtained materials were used as a media for separation of hydrogen sulfide from air at ambient conditions. The materials were characterized using adsorption of nitrogen, elemental analysis, SEM, FTIR, and thermal analysis. Surface features of the carbons depend on the amount of an activation agent used. Even though the residual inorganic matter takes part in the H₂S retention via salt formation, the porous surface of carbons governs the separation process. The chemical activation method chosen resulted in formation of large volume of pores with sizes between 10 and 30Å, optimal for water and hydrogen sulfide adsorption. Even though the activation process can be optimized/changed, the presence of nitrogen in the precursor (caffeine) is a significant asset of that specific organic waste. Nitrogen functional groups play a catalytic role in hydrogen sulfide oxidation.