The total surface area (BET-area), pore size distribution and pore volume are important properties for the assessment of the surface characteristics of activated carbon and similar materials.
These properties were determined for the different activated carbons obtained by both the chemical and physical activations by adsorption isotherm of nitrogen at liquid nitrogen temperature (196 C) at different partial pressures (ASAP-2000 Micromeritics) according to the Brunauer Emmett and Teller (BET) equation.
Small samples of the activated carbons (0.3e0.6 g) were loaded into a glass holder, degassed at 250 C under vacuum until equilibrium was achieved and were then analyzed.