This paper demonstrates the preparation of mesoporous and
microporous activated carbon materials containing a high
concentration of functional groups by using starch as a natural
polymer. It has a large number of hydroxyl groups capable of capturing
the large amount of gasses that are considered very harmful
for the environment and thus reducing their concentration in air
[33,34]. Herein, we also use gelatin as a precursor to produce
nitrogen-doped porous carbons [35]. Potassium hydroxide is a
good chemical activating agent to produce high specific surface
area and large pore volume while retaining its porosity [36].
Since many of the activated carbons prepared previously have produced
the best qualities desired for porous materials when the
ratio of potassium hydroxide to porous carbon is set at 1:4 [37],
thus the same ratio is used in our study while keeping the
carbonization temperature at 700 C.