Preparation of activated carbon from Xinjiang region coal by microwave activation and its application in naphthalene, phenanthrene, and pyrene adsorption

The BET surface area and total pore volume of CAC prepared by microwave activation with coal to KOH ratio of 1:3 for 12 min at 700 W of microwave power were identified as 1770.49 m2/g and 0.99 cm3/g. The adsorption process of naphthalene, phenanthrene, and pyrene on CAC consisted of two distinguished periods. The equilibrium adsorption amounts were observed at 20 min as 117.17 mg/g for pyrene, 111.39 mg/g for phenanthrene, and 78.18 mg/g for naphthalene.