Study of cherry stones as raw material in preparation of carbonaceous adsorbents

Cherry stones (CS) have been characterised in terms of chemical composition, texture, and thermal behaviour with a view to be used as a raw material in the preparation of activated carbon. Ashes obtained from CS have also been studied. CS have been heated in various atmospheres (i.e., in the atmosphere of the products released during the pyrolysis of CS, in nitrogen or in air) and the resultant products characterised as well. The study has been accomplished by means of chemical analyses, FT-IR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, density measurements, mercury porosimetry, scanning electron microscopy, and TG-DTG and DSC analyses. CS possess a low inorganic matter content and a high volatile matter content. Their packing density is also high. The yield of the pyrolysis process of CS in N2 is 39.1 wt.% at 400 °C and 21.6 wt.% at 1000 °C. The chemical composition of ashes obtained from CS depends on heat treatment temperature and atmosphere. The main components are maghemite and hematites for ashes prepared at 650 °C in air and periclase for ashes heated subsequently to 950 °C in N2. CS are an essentially macroporous material. The ash content is also relatively low in the products prepared by heat treatment of CS. Such products are microporous and macroporous solids. The surface area and microporosity develop to a larger extent in nitrogen and air. The micropores are wider in air.