Abstract

ESTUPINAN, Hugo Armando; VASQUEZQUINTERO, Custodio  and  PULIDO, Jorge Enrique. Production of a coal-based activated material from anthracite and its potential applications in hydrometallurgy. Rev.fac.ing.univ. Antioquia [online]. 2006, n.37, pp.31-40. ISSN 0120-6230.

Activated carbon was obtained from an anthracite mineral (96,6 wt % of fixed carbon) from the Páramo del Almorzadero (town of Cerrito,Santander). The anthracite was activated in two stages: firstly, a chemical activation with acids was used for increasing the reactivity of the external surface and facilitating the access to the internal surface of the coal. Secondly, a physical activation at temperature of 800 oC, 1.000 ^oC and 1.200 ^oC with CO₂ was conducted. The effect of the operating conditions during the activation process on the activity of the coal was evaluated, and the optimum conditions to achieve a product with the better characteristics, i.e., a specific surface of 107,4m²/g, were obtained. The potential of this activated coal in hydrometallurgy (specifically in recovery of gold) was evaluated. A gold adsorption capacity of 6,6 kg/ton of activated coal was obtained.

Keywords : activated coal; anthracite; activation; adsorption.

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