Study of activation mechanism for dual model pore structured carbon based on effects of molecular weight of petroleum pitch

Abstract In this study, petroleum pitch-based activated carbon was prepared, and the correlation between the molecular weight of the pitch and the specific surface area of the prepared activated carbon was considered. The petroleum pitch was prepared by thermal synthesis of PFO (pyrolysis fuel oil) at 380∼430 ℃ to control the molecular weight of the pitch, and the product was analyzed by MALDI-TOF (matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight). The activation proceeded by using KOH at 850 ℃ for 1 hour, and the pore structure of the prepared activated carbon was characterized by the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) method. The pitch synthesized at low temperature had a high specific surface area to 1855 m2/g due to the presence of volatile compounds with values of 128∼256 m/z, which formed cavities upon volatilization.