TEHRAN, Sep. 14 (MNA) – Iranian researchers from Isfahan University of Technology used pistachio shells to produce carbon active with new nanostructural properties applicable in production of purification filters.


The most important application of carbon active is in the separation of undesired smell, color and tastes from water at home and in industrial purification, air filtration, specially in restaurants, food industry and chemicals. This product also has medical applications in gastric lavage in food poisoning. Carbon active is usually made of carbon materials, including wood and coal. Production of carbon active with optimized properties can improve its applications in various industries.

Taking into consideration the fact that there is large amount of pistachio shell waste in Iran, the main objective of the research was to convert this useless material into a valuable product with value added. The other objective of the research was to study catalytic effect of potassium permanganate in the activation process of carbon.

According to Iran Nanotechnology Initiaitve Council (INIC), carbon active produced in this study has larger mesopores than other similar products. Having pores with optimized size is one of the most important specifications of carbon active, which depends on physical and chemical conditions in the production process. The size of mesopores in carbon active produced in this research is about 8-15 nm while the pore size has been reported less than 2 nm in previous studies. Therefore, the mesoporous carbon active can have a better performance.

Results of the research have been published in Microporous and Mesoporous Materials, vol. 230, 2016, pp. 39-48.

By Mehr News Agency