How Powdered Activated Carbon Acts as a Catalyst Support？

1. Selection and treatment of activated carbon

Specific surface area and pore structure: Select powdered activated carbon with a specific surface area and pore structure suitable for the needs of the catalytic reaction. A large specific surface area usually means more active sites, and different pore sizes also affect the adsorption and diffusion of different reactant molecules.

Pretreatment: In order to remove possible contaminants and impurities on the surface of activated carbon, a pretreatment step such as acid washing or heat treatment can be performed. Pretreatment can improve the surface cleanliness and activity of activated carbon.

2. Loading of active components of catalyst

Solution impregnation method:

The precursor of the active component of the catalyst is dissolved in a solution, and then the powdered activated carbon is soaked in the solution.

The active component enters the interior and surface of the activated carbon through adsorption and pore capillary action.

The precursor is then converted into an active form through a drying and calcination process.
Co-deposition method:

Activated carbon is mixed with a catalyst metal salt solution, and metal ions are deposited on the surface of the activated carbon through a chemical reaction.
It is common to mix activated carbon with metal salts and then introduce a reducing gas, such as H₂, to reduce the metal ions and deposit them on the activated carbon.
Chemical vapor deposition (CVD):

Using gas phase precursors, the catalyst components are generated and deposited on the surface of activated carbon through gas phase chemical reactions at high temperatures.
This method usually ensures that the catalyst particles are evenly distributed and have a small particle size.

3. Fixation and post-treatment
Drying: Dry the activated carbon at an appropriate temperature to remove solvent residues.
Calcination: Calcination at high temperature (usually in an inert gas or reducing atmosphere) to convert the catalyst precursor into an active form (such as oxide, metallic state, etc.).
Activation treatment: Further treatment is carried out according to actual needs, such as reduction treatment to improve catalyst activity.
4. Performance testing and optimization
Characterization of the structure and properties of activated carbon carriers: The structure and distribution of activated carbon and catalysts are analyzed using BET specific surface area determination, XRD, SEM, TEM and other technologies.
Catalytic performance test: characterization test and catalytic reaction test are carried out to evaluate the activity, selectivity and stability of the catalyst.
Adjustment and optimization: according to the test results, the ratio of activated carbon and active components, loading method and treatment conditions are adjusted to optimize the catalyst performance.