Method of producing activated carbon
A method of producing activated carbon includes pyrolyzing a hydrocarbon feedstock in the presence of a salt. The hydrocarbon feedstock includes a gas hydrocarbon, a liquid hydrocarbon, or both. The salt includes an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal, or both.
1 . A method of producing activated carbon comprising pyrolyzing a hydrocarbon feedstock in the presence of a salt, wherein:
the hydrocarbon feedstock comprises light cycle oil, heavy cycle oil, or both; and
the salt comprises an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal, or both.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the hydrocarbon feedstock comprises light cycle oil.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the hydrocarbon feedstock comprises a mixture of hydrocarbons having a boiling point range within about 150° C. to about 600° C.
4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the mixture of hydrocarbons has a boiling point range of about 150° C. to about 400° C.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the mixture of hydrocarbons has a cetane number in a range of about 15 to about 25.
6 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the mixture of hydrocarbons has a boiling point range of about 160° C. to about 360° C.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the hydrocarbon feedstock comprises a mixture of hydrocarbons having a boiling point range within about 180° C. to about 600° C.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein at least about 90% volume of the mixture of hydrocarbons has a boiling point range of about 300° C. to about 600° C.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the salt comprises a potassium salt, a sodium salt, a calcium salt, or a combination thereof.
10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the salt comprises a potassium salt.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the salt comprises an acetate salt, an oxalate salt, a carbonate salt, a bicarbonate salt, or a combination thereof.
12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the salt comprises potassium bicarbonate, potassium acetate, or a combination thereof.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the salt comprises potassium acetate.
14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the pyrolysis is carried out at a temperature in the range of about 600° C. to about 700° C.
15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the pyrolysis is carried out in the presence of two or more salts.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the two or more salts comprise potassium chloride, potassium hydroxide, or both.
17 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the method produces activated carbon at a yield in the range of about 10 wt. % to about 20 wt. % when the pyrolysis is carried out at a pressure of about 1 bar.
18 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the method produces activated carbon at a yield in the range of about 10 wt. % to about 30 wt. % when the pyrolysis is carried out at a pressure greater than about 1 bar.
19 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the method produces a hydrocarbon product with a higher aromatic content than the hydrocarbon feedstock.
20 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the salt is not a hydroxide salt.