Production of granular activated carbon from walnut hard shell in full scale and comparing specifications with similar products

Granular activated carbon was produced from walnut hard-shell via physical activation process (Tooyserkan, Hamadan, Iran). In current study, standard specifications of activated carbons were investigated according to ASTM and then compared with those available in internal market. Firstly, lingo-cellolosic compound was pyrolyzed at 800 °C in carbonization furnace and then activated at 800-1200 °C in an equipped activation furnace using water vapor and CO2. Characterizations including hardness, ash content, iodine number, moisture content, specific surface area and apparent density were performed together with FTIR and XRF analyses. Results showed that in addition to appropriate availability of proper functional groups, produced activated carbon in this company with hardness of 88%, ID of 1100 mg/g, ash near 7%, apparent density of 400 kg/m3, surface area of 1240 m2/g and moisture of 5% is qualitatively an alternative to similar foreign products.