Abstract: Coconut shell was used to prepare unshaped granular activated carbon by phosphoric acid activation.The effects of the preparation conditions on the properties of activated carbon were discussed.The results showed that with the increasing of impregnation ratio, the adsorption values of acetate and zinc acetate on activated carbon increased, but its apparent density and intensity decreased.The raise of activation temperature and dry temperature benefited the increase of the adsorption value of zinc acetate, apparent density, and intensity.Under impregnation ratio 1.25:1, activation temperature 400 ℃, and dry temperature 120 ℃, the adsorption value of acetate and zinc acetate, apparent density and intensity were 546 mg/g, 61 g/L, 0.395 g/mL, and 84.4%, respectively.The indexes of the activated carbon accorded with the requirement of national standard GB/T 13803.5—1999.

Key words: phosphoric acid activation, coconut shell, unshaped, granular activated carbon