There are a lot of methods, mainly separated into 2 classes: physical and chemical activation. The most relevant method depends on what you want to get: microporous or mesoporous adsorbents ? You can find many papers about this to download in my RG profile. But if you alredy deal with Norit activated carbon, it is not sure that you have to activate it further. Just look at the technical specifications, especially the surface area, and see if it is high enough.

Alain

You need to sieve it to get a defined size fraction to use. After that you need to wash it with pure water to remove fine particles and than dry it at 105°C for 24h.

The answer of Professor Alain Celzard is accurate. Your activated carbon provided by the company Norit is already activated. You only have to check the technical specifications of your adsorbent (specific surface area, ash, activation method, density, etc.). On the other hand I totally agree with Mr. Andreas Albers but the described  steps are more purification and drying steps that are needed before the use of activated carbon in any research work.

Salim

The  method  for preparation of activated carbon depends on the application of the activated carbon and the source of your  carbon material . IF you are planning to use agricultural bye products or waste  carbon materials, Pyrolysis of the carbon material will be the first step. Then you can now decide whether you want to use chemical or physical activation methods. I have got a few papers on this and will be willing to send them to you if you want.

dear colleagues! Thank you so much for your answers and advice!

I can not find the methods for the preparation of a commercial sample of Norit GAC 1240. I am interested in the following questions:

1 Is it necessary to carry out the homogenization? If required, what should be the degree of homogenization, the particle size?

2, Do I need to washing with water or other solvents?

3 Do I need to carry out a commercial sample thermal activation?

I will be grateful for your advice and recommendations of articles and monographs for the preparation and use of activated carbon for the sorption of organic pollutants.

You'll never find the way a commercial material is prepared ! However, it seems to me that in the present case it is a granular activated carbon obtained by physical activation with steam of grains of coconut shells. Briefly, coconut shells are ground and sieved for retaining an homogeneous (small) size, are heated up to a temperature ranging between 700 and 900°C in inert gas, then submitted to a flow of steam until the desired weight loss (called "burn-off") is obtained. For homogeneity of the material, the process is carried out in a rotary kiln.

But other activated carbons are prepared differently, see again the papers in my RG profile.

Alain

Thanks a lot, Mr. Alain Celzard!

@Alain Celzard which method can be applied if it is microporus carbon material for the activation?

Dear Prof Alain Celzard ,

I faced difficulty when I do chemical activation of KOH prior to physical activation (carbonisation). The sample likely dissolved together with KOH. can you suggest?

I work on durian-based activated carbon.

Activation With CO2 or phosphoric acid makes a lot of micro pores.

@Ain Aqilah Basirun

If you use an agricultural waste as a carbon source, I suggest to use 2 or 3 M of NaOH for alkalian activation.