Preparation of Activated Carbon From ((Asphalt:Polymer)) Mixtures and Improving its Adsorption Properties by Thermal Fusion Carbonization and Microwave Technique

Asphalt was modified by several methods including catalyzed treatment with a number of recycled polymers aiming at changing their chemical composition in order to be suitable for producing activated carbon, which is of great importance that is due to its uses in industing and in pollution control. The best model in terms of asphaltene content was used in the preparation of activated carbon using excess amount of potassium hydroxide after atmospheric and vacuum distillation; complementing carbonization is then carried out. The selected activated carbon models were purified, and the activation process is finally achieved by employing microwave technique. The properties of the synthesized models were tested by determining the adsorption capacity of iodine and methylene blue from aqueous media, the density, ash content and humidity. It is noticed that the chemical structure of the starting material and the use of both thermal fusion carbonization and the activation by microwave technique have great influences on the physical properties of synthesized carbon.