Comparison of Selected Procedures for Generating Activated Carbon. . .
175
temperature of activation and, in case B the method of activation play only minor
roles.
Remaining to be discussed is the reason that M10 in case B appear as an
isolated element. This can advantageously be done applying the tripartite tool
(sepanalcoloured17_0 module of the PyHasse software; Bruggemann and Voigt
2011). The tripartite graph is a simple visualization of any indicator conflict. Thus,
in the present case the element x is the method M10 that is compared to the
remaining methods. A line from an indicator to M10 visualized that for M10 this
indicator is higher than the same indicator for the method y and vice versa. In Fig. 3
is shown the comparisons of M10 to the remaining 20 method, the comparisons
being done level wise.
It immediate seen that several indicator conflicts prevail at all 5 levels. An
important factor to be mentioned is the role of the MoA indicator that virtually in all
cases are higher for M10 than for the other methods. However, as it is obvious also
for the other indicators conflicts prevail at all levels. Thus, as an simple example is
level 1, where the indicators MoA and Yield are higher for M10 than for M2a,
whereas the indicator Surf is higher for M2a than for M10, thus constituting a
conflict and thus an incomparability.
4 Conclusions and Outlook
The importance of AC should obviously not be underestimated, since it satisfies the
needs for an adsorbent for the purification of liquid, gas and solid substances. Thus,
simple and cost-effective ways to increase the production of AC of high quality are
crucial.
In general, we can conclude that the method based on Miscanthus straw
(M10) obviously is not a specifically efficient way for producing activated carbon.
Nevertheless, the following conclusions can be drawn in favor of M10:
1. Activated carbons are prepared using plant material, which is a renewable, fastgrowing, perennial plant. This plant annually brings high biomass growth rates
(Nsanganwimana et al. 2014). Thus, the method is sustainable.
2. The material shows good sorption capacities to ions of heavy metals and
organic substances from the soil (absorption by roots) (Pidlisnyuk et al. 2014;
Reddad et al. 2003). In Kazakhstan, work is underway in the frame of an
international NATO project to clean Kazakhstan’s contaminated soils using this
plant (Nurzhanova et al. 2019). Therefore, there is a very high prospect of
growing Miscanthus, using the root system to clean the soil, and the aboveground
part of the biomass converted to activated carbon to clean water bodies. Also,
the use of the aboveground part as a cheap raw material for producing AC is
economically viable as the disposal of aboveground biomass.
3. Vast unused areas in Kazakhstan can be used for growing Miscanthus. Miscanthus material does not require complex pre-treatment, unlike, e, e.g., coconuts
175
temperature of activation and, in case B the method of activation play only minor
roles.
Remaining to be discussed is the reason that M10 in case B appear as an
isolated element. This can advantageously be done applying the tripartite tool
(sepanalcoloured17_0 module of the PyHasse software; Bruggemann and Voigt
2011). The tripartite graph is a simple visualization of any indicator conflict. Thus,
in the present case the element x is the method M10 that is compared to the
remaining methods. A line from an indicator to M10 visualized that for M10 this
indicator is higher than the same indicator for the method y and vice versa. In Fig. 3
is shown the comparisons of M10 to the remaining 20 method, the comparisons
being done level wise.
It immediate seen that several indicator conflicts prevail at all 5 levels. An
important factor to be mentioned is the role of the MoA indicator that virtually in all
cases are higher for M10 than for the other methods. However, as it is obvious also
for the other indicators conflicts prevail at all levels. Thus, as an simple example is
level 1, where the indicators MoA and Yield are higher for M10 than for M2a,
whereas the indicator Surf is higher for M2a than for M10, thus constituting a
conflict and thus an incomparability.
4 Conclusions and Outlook
The importance of AC should obviously not be underestimated, since it satisfies the
needs for an adsorbent for the purification of liquid, gas and solid substances. Thus,
simple and cost-effective ways to increase the production of AC of high quality are
crucial.
In general, we can conclude that the method based on Miscanthus straw
(M10) obviously is not a specifically efficient way for producing activated carbon.
Nevertheless, the following conclusions can be drawn in favor of M10:
1. Activated carbons are prepared using plant material, which is a renewable, fastgrowing, perennial plant. This plant annually brings high biomass growth rates
(Nsanganwimana et al. 2014). Thus, the method is sustainable.
2. The material shows good sorption capacities to ions of heavy metals and
organic substances from the soil (absorption by roots) (Pidlisnyuk et al. 2014;
Reddad et al. 2003). In Kazakhstan, work is underway in the frame of an
international NATO project to clean Kazakhstan’s contaminated soils using this
plant (Nurzhanova et al. 2019). Therefore, there is a very high prospect of
growing Miscanthus, using the root system to clean the soil, and the aboveground
part of the biomass converted to activated carbon to clean water bodies. Also,
the use of the aboveground part as a cheap raw material for producing AC is
economically viable as the disposal of aboveground biomass.
3. Vast unused areas in Kazakhstan can be used for growing Miscanthus. Miscanthus material does not require complex pre-treatment, unlike, e, e.g., coconuts