Study of commercial wood charcoals for the preparation of carbon adsorbents

We have studied the chemical composition and the physical characteristics of wood charcoals manufactured in Extremadura (Spain) as far as their potential production of carbon adsorbents is concerned. The samples were characterized by proximate and ultimate analyses, densimetric measurements, adsorption (carbon dioxide, 273 K; nitrogen, 77 K) and scanning electron microscopy. The characteristics of the wood charcoals depend not only on the wood used, but also the carbonization system. In particular, the eucalyptus charcoal produced in continuous furnace has interesting characteristics: the lowest ash content (∼2%), the highest fixed carbon content (∼90%), the highest total pore volume (∼1 cm3 g−1) and an initial development of its pore structure in the range of narrow micropores to wide macropores.