Effect of Activating Agent NaOH versus KOH

As illustrated earlier, the activation results for KOH and NaOH are not necessarily the same. In the following text, the comparison between the performance of NaOH and KOH will be made using four different precursors and keeping the preparation method constant (1) anthracite [43] (2) subbituminous coal [116] (3) carbon fibers (CF) [88,98] and (4) MWCNTs [72,101]. 

FIGURE 1.5 KOH versus NaOH activation comparison. N2 adsorption isotherms at 77 K of (a) two activated carbons prepared from an anthracite and (b) two activated carbons prepared from a subbituminous coal. In both figures the same preparation procedure was employed (physical mixing, hydroxide/anthracite ratio 3/1 weight, heating rate 5°C/min to 750°C soaking time 1 h Nj flow rate during heat treatment 500 mL/min). 

The results summarized in these figures have puzzled us for many years because there was no explanation for them in the literature. Analyzing many series of ACs prepared in our laboratory using both NaOH and KOH, and putting on one 

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