Abstract: Feasibility of preparing activated carbon from moso bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens) twig with ZnCl₂ and H₃PO₄ using microwave irradiation was studied.The effects of ZnCl₂ and H₃PO₄ solution concentration, ratio by weight of the stem of P. pubescens twip to ZnCl₂ and H₃PO₄ solution, dipping time and microwave irradiation time on the quality of activated carbon were investigated. Under the condition of microwave power 900W,the optimum technology on preparation of activated carbon with ZnCl₂ using microwave irradiation was obtained as follows:ZnCl₂ solution mass fraction 50%, the ratio of weight of the stem of P.pubescens twip to ZnCl₂ solution 1:5, dipping time 24h, microwave irradiation time 25min. The activated carbon yield reached 46.3% and decolorizing capacity for methylene blue was 12.7mL/0.1g,which was 1.41 times of the first grade standard of GB/T 13803.2-1999. The optimum technology on preparation of activated carbon with H₃PO₄ using microwave irradiation was obtained as follows:H₃PO₄ solution mass fraction 40%, the ratio of weight of the stem of P. pubescens twip to H₃PO₄ solution 1:5, dipping time 24h, microwave irradiation time 20min. The activated carbon yield reached 50.5%and decolorizing capacity for methylene blue was11.0mL/0.1g, which was 1.22 times of the first grade standard of GB/T 13803.2-1999.

Key words: Phyllostachys pubescens, microwave irradiation, ZnCl₂ method, H₃PO₄ method, activated carbon