The activated carbons were prepared at the carbonization
temperatures of 600 and 800 8C by chemical activation with ZnCl2.
The yields of the activated carbons produced by chemical
activation were higher than those of bio-chars for all carbonization
temperatures. The maximum surface area of 978.8 m2
g
1
was
obtained at 600 8C with ZnCl2 activation which lies in the range of
commercial activated carbons. Depending on the impregnation
ratios and carbonization temperatures, the external surfaces of the
activated carbons have the pores which were different sizes and
different shapes.
The activated carbons produced from pomegranate seeds can
be used as adsorbents for various environmental applications
including removing hazardous compounds from industrial waste
gases or wastewater. The production of activated carbons with
high surface area from pomegranate seeds, a by-product of fruit
juice industries, is indeed of importance from the view point of
economic and environmental aspects.