Utilization of waste cotton linter for preparation of activated carbon to be used as catalyst support in aqueous-phase reforming process

Abstract

Waste cotton linter was evaluated for production of activated carbons (ACs) that can be used as catalyst support in aqueous-phase reforming (APR) process. Activated carbons were prepared by two different precarbonization methods (thermal and hydrothermal) and two types of chemical activating agents (H3PO4 and KOH). The catalysts prepared by deposition of platinum particles on these carbon materials were evaluated for conversion of glycerol to hydrogen gas by APR. Thermal precarbonization treated LTA and LTB samples had a higher surface area (416.7 and 775.2 m(2)/g) than hydrothermal precarbonized LHA and LHB samples (395.8 and 627.5 m(2)/g) regardless type of the activating agent. In general, KOH was more effective activating agent than H3PO4 in creating porosity in the carbon structures derived from cotton linter. The Pt/LHB catalyst (hydrothermal precarbonization-KOH activation) showed promising catalytic performance with hydrogen selectivity of 76.0% and 99.0% glycerol conversion at same APR conditions. (c) 2018 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 38: 445-450, 2019