Significance In the context of global environmental protection and sustainable development, the efficient utilization of biomass resources has become a research hotspot. This study conducts an in-depth exploration of efficient preparation methods for biomass-derived activated carbon, which holds significant practical importance. Biomass, as a renewable and abundant resource, has the potential to be transformed into high value-added activated carbon materials. The specific impacts of activation processes on the properties of biomass-derived activated carbon are crucial factors that determine its performance in various applications. Through a comparative analysis of physical and chemical activation mechanisms, this research aims to provide a solid scientific foundation for the widespread application of biomass-derived activated carbon across multiple fields. It is anticipated that this study will facilitate the rational utilization of biomass resources, reduce environmental pollution, and drive the development of green and sustainable industries.
Progress This study presents a comprehensive review of the preparation process of biomass-derived activated carbon. Physical activation, which mainly entails treatment with high-temperature gases such as steam and carbon dioxide, is a complex physical-chemical process. During this process, the gases penetrate the biomass matrix, inducing the internal structural rearrangement and facilitating gas diffusion. This physical action leads to the formation of a large number of micropores and mesopores, significantly increasing the specific surface area and optimizing the pore structure of the activated carbon. The well-developed pore structure provides more active sites for adsorption, thereby enhancing its adsorption capacity. Chemical activation, in contrast，employs chemical reagents such as alkali metal salts and acids to react with carbon precursors. These reagents interact with biomass at elevated temperatures, breaking chemical bonds within the biomass and promoting the formation of a porous structure. Moreover, chemical activation enhances the specific surface area of carbon materials and optimizes the pore structure. More importantly, it introduces specific functional groups onto the surface of the activated carbon. These functional groups, such as carboxyl, hydroxyl, and amino groups, interact with target pollutants through hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interaction, and chemical complexation, enriching the surface chemical properties and improving adsorption selectivity and efficiency. Furthermore, the study comprehensively summarizes the substantial impacts of activation processes on specific surface area, pore structure, functional group distribution, and the overall adsorption performance.
Conclusion and Prospects Future research should prioritize the continuous optimization of preparation processes for biomass-derived activated carbon, highlighting the development of more efficient, environmentally friendly, and cost-effective activation techniques. Through in-depth and meticulous studies of activation mechanisms, it is expected that biomass-derived activated carbon materials with outstanding adsorption performance, high stability, and broad applicability can be developed. Such advances will not only address the urgent needs of current applications but also offer strong material support for emerging fields.
Keywords：activated carbon; activation method; specific surface area; pore structure; functional group; adsorption
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