Preparation and characterization of activated carbons from Paulownia wood by chemical activation with H3PO4

The pore properties of the carbons including the BET surface area, pore volume, pore size distribution, and average pore diameter were determined by adsorption of N2 at 77 K using the BET, t-plot and density functional theory (DFT) methods. BET surface area and total pore volume values were achieved as high as 2806 m2/g and 1.746 cm3/g, respectively. Activated carbons were also examined with instrumental methods such as SEM and FTIR.