The production of activated carbon from the high – sulphur coal of Kütahya–Gediz region and determination of its features

In this thesis study, it was attempted to produce activated carbon as an alternative area of usage for the coal of Kütahya, Gediz region including a high ratio of sulphur and to that end the techniques of physical and chemical activation were applied. The coal in the region was first subjected to varied characterization studies. During these studies, it was determined that the coal of Kütahya, Gediz region proved to contain 3,55% pyritic, 2,89% organic and 0,62% sulphate sulphur and as a result of the microscopic examinations carried out, it was established that the pyritic sulphur has the liberation size of 1-5 micron. In the physical activation tests applied in order to produce activated carbon, N2 and CO2 gases were used as activator reagents. The effects of carbonization temperature, carbonization time and particle size were analyzed for the purpose of determining the most appropriate activated carbon production parameters. In the physical activation tests, ZnCl2 and KOH were used as activator reagents and in order to determine the most appropriate activated carbon production parameters the effects of coal-chemical ratio, impregnation time and particle size were analyzed. A solution including 0,5 ppm Cu+2 was used so as to determine the absorption capacity of the obtained activated carbons. The optimal operating conditions were identified considering the amount of Cu+2 that the obtained activated carbons removed from the solution. In the physical activation procedures, 96,8% of the Cu+2 in the solution was removed with the activated carbon produced by using N2 gas; 96% of Cu+2 in the solution was removed with CO2 gas. In the phase of chemical activation procedures, on the other hand, 99% of Cu+2 in the solution was removed with the activated carbon produced by using ZnCl2 while 99,6% of Cu+2 could be removed with KOH. When the BET surface areas of the obtained activated carbons were examined, they were determined to be 510 m2/gr with N2, 618 m2/gr with CO2, 733 m2/gr with ZnCl2 and 792 m2/gr with KOH and the obtained activated carbons were compared with Chemviron activated carbon that has a BET surface area of 1100 m2/gr. Key Words: Activated carbon, Chemical activations, Physical activations, The high - sulphur coal of Kütahya–Gediz region.