Hierarchical porous activated carbon from waste Zanthoxylum bungeanum branches by modified HPO activation for toluene removal in air.

Activated carbon adsorbents were prepared by chemical activation with waste Zanthoxylum bungeanum branches as raw materials and HPO/HSO as composite activator under different dosages of the auxiliary activator HSO. The prepared samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) specific surface area test, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The adsorption/desorption performances of low concentration toluene in the air were evaluated, and its reusability was evaluated by the adsorption/desorption cycle.