Preparation and characteristics of medicinal activated carbon powders by CO2 activation of peanut shells

Peanut shells were used as precursors for the preparation of medicinal activated carbon using CO2 as an activator. The optimal conditions for the preparation of these activated carbons were investigated, and the characteristics of the produced activated carbon were analysed. The optimum preparation conditions consisted of an activation temperature of 900 °C and an activation time of 5 h; these conditions produced a 26.15% charcoal yield and adsorptive capabilities of 225.8 and 421.5 mg g− 1 for MB and phenazone, respectively.