Effect of activation method on the physicochemical properties and NO2 removal abilities of sorbents obtained from plum stones (Prunus domestica)

Carbonaceous adsorbents from plum stones were obtained by physical and chemical activation and used as nitrogen dioxide adsorbents. The effect of activation procedure on the physicochemical and sorption properties of active carbons was tested. The materials obtained were microporous active carbons of well-developed surface area varying from 373 to 2570 m2/g and pore volume from 0.18 to 1.35 cm3/g, showing different acid–base character of the surface. The results obtained in our study have proved that a suitable choice of the activation procedure for plum stones can produce activated carbons with high sorption capacity of nitrogen dioxide, reaching to 65.0 and 37.5 mg NO2/g in dry and wet conditions, respectively. The sorption capacity towards NO2 of the adsorbents obtained was proved to be determined mainly by the surface chemistry and the reactions taking place on the surface rather than by the specific surface area development.