In this work, the correlation between the pore characteristics of activated carbon (AC) and the adsorption/desorption characteristics of evaporated fuel was studied. AC was prepared by various physical re-activation methods using coconut-derived commercial AC. Pore characteristics of the re-activated AC were investigated using N2/ 77 K adsorption isotherms. The structural characteristics of the AC were observed by X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. The butane working capacity was observed according to ASTM D5228. From the results, the specific surface area and total pore volume of the ACs were determined to be 1380–2040 m2/g and 0.60–0.96 cm3/g, respectively. It was also observed that various pore size distributions were found to be dependent on the functions of the activation method and time. A close relationship between butane activity/ retentivity and micropore/mesopore volumes was found. In addition, it was inferred that the volume fraction of micropores and sub-mesopores with diameters between 1.5 and 3.0 nm primarily controls butane activity.

    Abstract
    1 Introduction
    2 Experimental
        2.1 Materials
        2.2 Characterizations
    3 Results and discussion
        3.1 Adsorption isotherm and textural properties
        3.2 X-ray diffraction analysis
        3.3 Raman analysis
        3.4 Butane working capacity
    4 Conclusions
    Acknowledgements 
    References

• Hye‑Min Lee(Research Center for Carbon Convergence Materials, Korea Institute of Carbon Convergence Technology, Department of Chemistry, Inha University)
• Byeong‑Hoon Lee(Research Center for Carbon Convergence Materials, Korea Institute of Carbon Convergence Technology, Department of Chemical Engineering, Chonbuk National University)
• Kay‑Hyeok An(Department of Carbon and Nano Materials Engineering, Jeonju University)
• Soo‑Jin Park(Research Center for Carbon Convergence Materials, Korea Institute of Carbon Convergence Technology)
• Byung‑Joo Kim(Research Center for Carbon Convergence Materials, Korea Institute of Carbon Convergence Technology)