Abstract
Activated carbon (AC) was obtained by carbonizing the following low-value sources and industrial wastes:
- 500+ °C vacuum residue (VR)
- Asphaltenes separated from crude oil sludge deposits (SA)
- Waste rubber from used tires (WR)
- A blend of asphaltenes and waste rubber (AWR)
A mixture of the carbon source with elemental sulfur in a 1:1 ratio was first carbonized under atmospheric conditions at 250°C, followed by a second stage carbonization at 500°C under a nitrogen atmosphere in an electrically heated tubular furnace. Carbon was finally thermally activated at 900°C under N2 gas atmosphere in the same heater.
Evaluation of the activity of the prepared carbon types was achieved by measurements on adsorption of acetic acid, iodine, and methylene blue dye from their aqueous solutions.