CARBON MICROPARTICLE PRODUCED FROM RAW MATERIAL LIGNIN, AND PROCESS FOR PRODUCTION THEREOF

摘要

Disclosed is a process for producing a carbon microparticle from an organic raw material mainly composed of lignin. Also disclosed is a carbon microparticle produced by the process. An aqueous solution containing lignin and sodium hydroxide (at a ratio of 1:0.5 by mass) in the total amount of 5% is spray-dried to prepare a composite microparticle. The composite microparticle is heated in a nitrogen atmosphere at 600°C for 1 hour, and subsequently allowed to cool. The resulting microparticle is washed with water and dried, thereby producing a hollow carbon microparticle as shown in Fig. 2(b). The carbon microparticle is light-weight and has a specific surface area equivalent to that of a commercially available active carbon.