Carbon dioxide-assisted fabrication of highly uniform submicron-sized colloidal carbon spheres via hydrothermal carbonization using soft drink

An eco-friendly and economical method for the formation of highly uniform-sized carbon spheres by hydrothermal dehydration/condensation of a commercial carbonated beverage at 200?°C is reported. Until now, the effect of an extra pressure which is built up by dissolved CO₂ on the generation of carbon spheres under hydrothermal condition less than 250?°C hasn’t been demonstrated yet. In general, a complicated reactor is required to put overpressure on the autoclave vessel by adding inert gases, whereas the manipulation of a carbonated beverage including fructose and glucose molecules as precursors is favorable to design a simple experimental set-up and to investigate the effect of extra pressure on the growth of carbon spheres under mild hydrothermal condition. Herein, CO₂ dissolved in the beverage accelerates the dehydration kinetics of the dissolved sugar molecules leading to production of homogeneous carbon spheres having a diameter less than 850?nm. In addition, the rough surface of these carbon spheres likely results from continuous Ostwald ripening of constituent microscopic carbon-containing spheres that are formed by subsequent polymerization of intermediate hydroxymethylfurfural molecules.     

超高比表面积氮掺杂多孔碳材料的制备及其超级电容性能

以蔗糖为碳源,尿素为氮源,草酸钾为活化剂,通过简单的研磨和高温碳化制备了具有超高比表面积(大于3 000 m²·g^-1)的氮掺杂多孔碳材料。采用多种手段对多孔碳材料的微观形貌、比表面积、孔结构和表面氮物种进行了表征,探究了不同温度下草酸钾和尿素对碳材料的比表面积、氮含量和超级电容性能的影响。结果表明,仅使用草酸钾作为活化剂制备的碳材料KC-800 的比表面积为 1 114 m2·g^-1,而同时使用草酸钾和尿素制备的样品 KNC-800 的比表面积高达 3 033 m²·g^-1。在以 6.0mol·L^-1 KOH 为电解液的三电极体系中,当电流密度为 0.5 A·g^-1时,KNC-800 的比电容为 405 F·g^-1,而 KC-800 的比电容仅为248 F·g^-1。这表明草酸钾和尿素的加入显著提高了多孔碳材料的比表面积和超级电容性能。电容贡献分析表明,KNC-800的双电层电容值和赝电容值均高于KC-800。KNC-800在电流密度为0.5 A·g^-1时经过10 000次循环后仍能保持98.3%的初始比电容,表现出优异的循环性能。     

超高比表面积氮掺杂多孔碳材料的制备及其超级电容性能

以蔗糖为碳源、尿素为氮源、草酸钾为活化剂,通过简单的研磨和高温碳化制备了具有超高比表面积(大于3 000 m²·g^-1)的氮掺杂多孔碳材料。采用多种手段对多孔碳材料的微观形貌、比表面积、孔结构和表面氮物种进行了表征,探究了不同温度下草酸钾和尿素对碳材料的比表面积、氮含量和超级电容性能的影响。结果表明,仅使用草酸钾作为活化剂制备的碳材料KC-800的比表面积为1 114 m²·g^-1,而同时使用草酸钾和尿素制备的样品KNC-800的比表面积高达3 033 m²·g^-1。在以6.0mol·L^-1 KOH为电解液的三电极体系中,当电流密度为0.5 A·g^-1时,KNC-800的比电容为405 F·g^-1,而KC-800的比电容仅为248 F·g^-1。这表明草酸钾和尿素的加入显著提高了多孔碳材料的比表面积和超级电容性能。电容贡献分析表明,KNC-800的双电层电容值和赝电容值均...     

Amine functionalised metal organic frameworks (MOFs) as adsorbents for carbon dioxide

Three different porous metal organic framework (MOF) materials have been prepared with and without uncoordinated amine functionalities inside the pores. The materials have been characterized and tested as adsorbents for carbon dioxide. At 298 K the materials adsorb significant amount of carbon dioxide, the amine functionalised adsorbents having the highest CO₂ adsorption capacities, the best adsorbing around 14 wt% CO₂ at 1.0 atm CO₂ pressure. At 25 atm CO₂ pressure, up to 60 wt% CO₂ can be adsorbed. At high pressures the CO₂ uptake is mostly dependent on the available surface area and pore volume of the material in question. For one of the iso-structural MOF pairs the introduction of amine functionality increases the differential adsorption enthalpy (from isosteric method) from 30 to around 50 kJ/mole at low CO₂ pressures, while the adsorption enthalpies reach the same level at increase pressures. The high pressure experimental results indicate that MOF based solid adsorbents can have a potential for use in pressure swing adsorption of carbon dioxide at elevated pressures.     

Chromatographic investigation of the effect of dissolved carbon dioxide on the glass transition temperature of a polymer and the solubility of a third component (additive)

The effect of dissolved carbon dioxide on the glass transition temperature of a polymer, PMMA, has been investigated using molecular probe chromatography. The probe solute was iso-octane, and the specific retention volumes of this solute in pure PMMA and mixtures of PMMA with CO₂ were measured over a temperature range of 0 to 180°C and CO₂ pressures from 1 to 75 atm. The amount of CO₂ dissolved in the polymer was calculated from a model fit to previously published solubility data determined chromatographically. Classical van't Hoff-type plots were used to determine the glass transition temperature of CO₂-impregnated PMMA from low pressure up to 46 atm of CO₂. Solvent-induced plasticization was observed with the glass transition temperature decreasing by about 40°C. At some pressures, glass transitions at low temperatures could not be determined from the van't Hoff plots because of the proximity of the polymer glass transition temperature to the gas–liquid transition temperature for CO₂. For these pressures, a new method was developed to determine the glass transition composition. The glass transition pressure was then calculated from the measured composition and temperature using an isotherm model. In every case, the glass transition temperature decreased linearly with increasing concentration of CO₂ in the polymer. However, at higher compositions, the glass transition pressure decreased with increasing composition and decreasing temperature. The observed retention volume of iso-octane with PMMA in a glassy state was correlated with an adsorption model developed from a theory for liquid–solid chromatography derived by Martire. This model accurately described the observed decrease in retention of iso-octane by adsorption on the surface of glassy PMMA with increasing concentration of CO₂ dissolved in the polymer. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J. Polym. Sci. B Polym. Phys. 36: 2537–2549, 1998     

Highly Porous Carbons Synthesized from Tannic Acid via a Combined Mechanochemical Salt-Templating and Mild Activation Strategy

Highly porous activated carbons were synthesized via the mechanochemical salt-templating method using both sustainable precursors and sustainable chemical activators. Tannic acid is a polyphenolic compound derived from biomass, which, together with urea, can serve as a low-cost, environmentally friendly precursor for the preparation of efficient N-doped carbons. The use of various organic and inorganic salts as activating agents afforded carbons with diverse structural and physicochemical characteristics, e.g., their specific surface areas ranged from 1190 m²·g⁻¹ to 3060 m²·g⁻¹. Coupling the salt-templating method and chemical activation with potassium oxalate appeared to be an efficient strategy for the synthesis of a highly porous carbon with a specific surface area of 3060 m²·g⁻¹, a large total pore volume of 3.07 cm³·g⁻¹ and high H₂ and CO₂ adsorption capacities of 13.2 mmol·g⁻¹ at −196 °C and 4.7 mmol·g⁻¹ at 0 °C, respectively. The most microporous carbon from the series exhibited a CO₂ uptake capacity as high as 6.4 mmol·g⁻¹ at 1 bar and 0 °C. Moreover, these samples showed exceptionally high thermal stability. Such activated carbons obtained from readily available sustainable precursors and activators are attractive for several applications in adsorption and catalysis.     

Vapour–liquid equilibrium for β-myrcene and carbon dioxide and/or hydrogen and the volume expansion of β-myrcene or limonene in CO2 at 323.15 K

Vapour–liquid equilibrium measurements for binary and ternary (carbon dioxide + β-myrcene and carbon dioxide + β-myrcene + hydrogen) systems have been carried out at 323.15 K and pressures in the range from 7 MPa to the critical pressure of the binary mixture and at pressures from 10 to 14 MPa for the investigated ternary systems. Samples from the coexisting phases were taken, and compositions were determined experimentally. Results were correlated using the Peng–Robinson and the Soave–Redlich–Kwong equations of state with the Mathias–Klotz–Prausnitz mixing rule. The set of interaction parameters for the employed equations of state and applied mixing rule for the system of CO₂ + β-myrcene and of CO₂ + β-myrcene + H₂ were obtained. Additionally, the volume expansion of the liquid phase for the binary mixtures (carbon dioxide + β-myrcene and carbon dioxide + limonene) were measured at 323.15 K and at pressures from 4 MPa up to very close to the critical pressure of the mixture. The ratio of liquid phase total volumes at the given pressure and at 4 MPa was calculated.     

Effect of supercritical carbon dioxide on the crystallization and melting behavior of linear bisphenol A polycarbonate

The crystallization and melting behavior of bisphenol A polycarbonate treated with supercritical carbon dioxide (CO₂) has been investigated with differential scanning calorimetry. Supercritical CO₂ depresses the crystallization temperature (T_c) of polycarbonate (PC). The lower melting point of PC crystals increase nonlinearly with increasing treatment temperature. This indicates that the depression of T_c is not a constant at the same pressure. T_c decreases faster at a higher treatment temperature than at a lower temperature. The leveling off of the depression in T_c at higher pressures is due to the antiplasticization effect of the hydrostatic pressure of CO₂. The melting curves of PC show two melting endotherms. The lower melting peak moves to a higher temperature with increasing treatment temperature, pressure, and time. The higher temperature peak moves toward a higher temperature as the treatment temperature is increased, whereas this peak is independent of the treatment pressure, time, and heating rate. The double melting peaks observed for PC can be attributed to the melting of crystals with different stability mechanisms. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 280–285, 2004     

Effect of CO2 Preservation Treatments on the Sensory Quality of Pomegranate Juice

Due to the interest in identifying cost-effective techniques that can guarantee the microbiological, nutritional, and sensorial aspects of food products, this study investigates the effect of CO₂ preservation treatment on the sensory quality of pomegranate juice at t₀ and after a conservation period of four weeks at 4 °C (t₂₈). The same initial batch of freshly squeezed non-treated (NT) juice was subjected to non-thermal preservation treatments with supercritical carbon dioxide (CO₂), and with a combination of supercritical carbon dioxide and ultrasound (CO₂-US). As control samples, two other juices were produced from the same NT batch: A juice stabilized with high pressure treatment (HPP) and a juice pasteurized at high temperature (HT), which represent an already established non-thermal preservation technique and the conventional thermal treatment. Projective mapping and check-all-that-apply methodologies were performed to determine the sensory qualitative differences between the juices. The volatile profile of the juices was characterized by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The results showed that juices treated with supercritical CO₂ could be differentiated from NT, mainly by the perceived odor and volatile compound concentration, with a depletion of alcohols, esters, ketones, and terpenes and an increase in aldehydes. For example, in relation to the NT juice, limonene decreased by 95% and 90%, 1-hexanol decreased by 9% and 17%, and camphene decreased by 94% and 85% in the CO₂ and CO₂-US treated juices, respectively. Regarding perceived flavor, the CO₂-treated juice was not clearly differentiated from NT. Changes in the volatile profile induced by storage at 4 °C led to perceivable differences in the odor quality of all juices, especially the juice treated with CO₂-US, which underwent a significant depletion of all major volatile compounds during storage. The results suggest that the supercritical CO₂ process conditions need to be optimized to minimize impacts on sensory quality and the volatile profile.     

Exclusion effect of carbon dioxide on the crystallization of polypropylene

We investigated the crystallization growth of isotactic polypropylene under carbon dioxide (CO₂) at various CO₂ pressures and temperatures by in situ observation with a digital high‐fidelity microscope and a specially designed high‐pressure visualized cell. The fibrils within the spherulite were distorted and branched by crystallization under CO₂ at pressures higher than 2 MPa, and this suggested the exclusion of CO₂ from the growth front of the fibrils. The spherulite growth rate (G) at 140 °C increased with the CO₂ pressure, attained a maximum value around 0.3 MPa, and then decreased. Above 6 MPa, it became slower than that under air at the ambient pressure. An analysis of the crystallization kinetics by the Hoffman–Lauritzen theory revealed that the pressure dependence of G could be ascribed to the change in the transportation rate of crystallizable molecules (β_g) with pressure; that is, β_g increased and then decreased with pressure. The increase in β_g at a low pressure was caused by the plasticizing effect of CO₂, whereas the decrease in β_g at a high pressure was due to the exclusion of CO₂ from the crystal growth front. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 1565–1572, 2004     

Morphology control of polypropylene by crystallization under carbon dioxide

We investigated the crystalline morphology of isotactic polypropylene obtained by melt crystallization under carbon dioxide (CO₂) at various pressures. Spherulites consisting of regularly arranged fibrils without subsidiary lamellae were obtained by crystallization under CO₂ below 2 MPa, whereas large spherulites consisting of irregularly arranged fibrils with subsidiary lamellae were obtained under ambient pressure. Distorted domain crystals with uniform optical anisotropy consisting of α‐form were found to be obtained under CO₂ above 2 MPa, and needle crystals consisting of γ‐form were obtained above 12 MPa. Transmission electron micrographs showed that straight and thick lamellae are regularly arranged in both the distorted domain crystals and the needle crystals. The uniformly thick lamellae were confirmed by differential scanning calorimetry thermograms; that is, the melting temperature is higher and the melting peak is sharper than those obtained under ambient pressure. Such characteristic crystalline morphologies obtained under CO₂ may be attributed to local ordering in the melt state. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 2738–2746, 2004     

A Comprehensive Study of CO2 Absorption and Desorption by Choline-Chloride/Levulinic-Acid-Based Deep Eutectic Solvents

Amine absorption (or amine scrubbing) is currently the most established method for CO₂ capture; however, it has environmental shortcomings and is energy-intensive. Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) are an interesting alternative to conventional amines. Due to their biodegradability, lower toxicity and lower prices, DESs are considered to be “more benign” absorbents for CO₂ capture than ionic liquids. In this work, the CO₂ absorption capacity of choline-chloride/levulinic-acid-based (ChCl:LvAc) DESs was measured at different temperatures, pressures and stirring speeds using a vapour–liquid equilibrium rig. DES regeneration was performed using a heat treatment method. The DES compositions studied had ChCl:LvAc molar ratios of 1:2 and 1:3 and water contents of 0, 2.5 and 5 mol%. The experimental results showed that the CO₂ absorption capacity of the ChCl:LvAc DESs is strongly affected by the operating pressure and stirring speed, moderately affected by the temperature and minimally affected by the hydrogen bond acceptor (HBA):hydrogen bond donator (HBD) molar ratio as well as water content. Thermodynamic properties for CO₂ absorption were calculated from the experimental data. The regeneration of the DESs was performed at different temperatures, with the optimal regeneration temperature estimated to be 80 °C. The DESs exhibited good recyclability and moderate CO₂/N₂ selectivity.     

树脂基球状活性炭的制备及对二氧化碳吸附性能的研究

以四种离子交换树脂（两种强碱性树脂D201和D280、两种弱碱性树脂D301G和D301R）为原料,经过磺化、炭化、活化处理制备了树脂基球状活性炭。采用TG、SEM、N₂吸附等对球状活性炭的收率、表面形貌、比表面积进行了表征,研究了所制球状活性炭对CO₂的吸附性能。结果表明,磺化处理有助提高树脂球的炭化收率;得到的四种球状活性炭对CO₂吸附性能良好,强碱性树脂球原料比弱碱性树脂球更具有优势,其中,由强碱性树脂球D201制得的树脂球状活性炭在30 ℃下对CO₂的吸附量可达2.57 mmol/g;十次循环吸附之后,树脂球仍能保持很好的CO₂吸附性能。     

Sorption and Textural Properties of Activated Carbon Derived from Charred Beech Wood

The aim of this study was to prepare activated carbon materials with different porous structures. For this purpose, the biomass precursor, beech wood, was carbonized in an inert atmosphere, and the obtained charcoal was physically activated using carbon dioxide at 1273 K. Different porous structures were obtained by controlling the time of the activation process. Prepared materials were characterized in terms of textural (N₂ sorption at 77 K), structural (XRD), and sorption properties (CO₂, C₂H₄, C₄H₁₀). The shortest activation time resulted in a mostly microporous structure, which provided a high sorption of CO₂. Increasing the activation time led to an increasing of the pores’ diameters. Therefore, the highest ethene uptake was obtained for the material with an intermediate activation time, while the highest butane uptake was obtained for the material with the highest activation time.     

Isothermal vapour–liquid equilibria in the binary and ternary systems consisting of an ionic liquid, 1-propanol and CO2

Vapour–liquid equilibrium measurements for binary and ternary systems containing carbon dioxide, 1-propanol, and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide or 1-decyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide or 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium trifluoromethanesulfonate ionic liquids are presented in this work. The binary CO₂ + 1-decyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide system at 313.15 K at pressure range from 2 to 14.4 MPa was examined. The obtained phase envelop shows that even at low pressure of CO₂ the solubility of the gas in the ionic liquid is high. The ternary phase equilibria were studied at 313.15 K and pressures in the range from 9 to 12 MPa. The ternary phase diagrams show that higher CO₂ pressure diminishes the miscibility gap.     

The Effect of Functional Groups on the Phase Behavior of Carbon Dioxide Binaries and Their Role in CCS

In recent years we have focused our efforts on investigating various binary mixtures containing carbon dioxide to find the best candidate for CO₂ capture and, therefore, for applications in the field of CCS and CCUS technologies. Continuing this project, the present study investigates the phase behavior of three binary systems containing carbon dioxide and different oxygenated compounds. Two thermodynamic models are examined for their ability to predict the phase behavior of these systems. The selected models are the well-known Peng–Robinson (PR) equation of state and the General Equation of State (GEOS), which is a generalization for all cubic equations of state with two, three, and four parameters, coupled with classical van der Waals mixing rules (two-parameter conventional mixing rule, 2PCMR). The carbon dioxide + ethyl acetate, carbon dioxide + 1,4-dioxane, and carbon dioxide + 1,2-dimethoxyethane binary systems were analyzed based on GEOS and PR equation of state models. The modeling approach is entirely predictive. Previously, it was proved that this approach was successful for members of the same homologous series. Unique sets of binary interaction parameters for each equation of state, determined for the carbon dioxide + 2-butanol binary model system, based on k₁₂–l₁₂ method, were used to examine the three systems. It was shown that the models predict that CO₂ solubility in the three substances increases globally in the order 1,4-dioxane, 1,2-dimethoxyethane, and ethyl acetate. CO₂ solubility in 1,2-dimethoxyethane, 1.4-dioxane, and ethyl acetate reduces with increasing temperature for the same pressure, and increases with lowering temperature for the same pressure, indicating a physical dissolving process of CO₂ in all three substances. However, CO₂ solubility for the carbon dioxide + ether systems (1,4-dioxane, 1,2-dimethoxyethane) is better at low temperatures and pressures, and decreases with increasing pressures, leading to higher critical points for the mixtures. By contrast, the solubility of ethyl acetate in carbon dioxide is less dependent on temperatures and pressures, and the mixture has lower pressures critical points. In other words, the ethers offer better solubilization at low pressures; however, the ester has better overall miscibility in terms of lower critical pressures. Among the binary systems investigated, the 1,2-dimethoxyethane is the best solvent for CO₂ absorption.     

Ultrasound-induced polymerization of methyl methacrylate in liquid carbon dioxide: a clean and safe route to produce polymers with controlled molecular weight

Ultrasound-induced cavitation is known to enhance chemical reactions as well as mass transfer at ambient pressures. Ultrasound is rarely studied at higher pressures, since a high static pressure hampers the growth of cavities. Recently, we have shown that pressurized carbon dioxide can be used as a medium for ultrasound-induced reactions, because the static pressure is counteracted by the higher vapor pressure, which enables cavitation. With the use of a dynamic bubble model, the possibility of cavitation and the resulting hot-spot formation upon bubble collapse have been predicted. These simulations show that the implosions of cavities in high-pressure fluids generate temperatures at which radicals can be formed. To validate this, radical formation and polymerization experiments have been performed in CO₂-expanded methyl methacrylate. The radical formation rate is approximately 1.5*10¹⁴ s⁻¹ in this system. Moreover, cavitation-induced polymerizations result in high-molecular weight polymers. This work emphasizes the application potential of sonochemistry for polymerization processes, as cavitation in CO₂-expanded monomers has shown to be a clean and safe route to produce polymers with a controlled molecular weight.     

Methane and carbon dioxide solubility in 1,2-propylene glycol at temperatures ranging from 303 to 423 K and pressures up to 12 MPa

This work reports solubility data of methane and carbon dioxide in 1,2-propylene glycol and the Henry's law constant of each solute in the studied solvent at saturation pressure. The measurements were performed at 303, 323, 373, 398 and 423.15 K and pressures up to 4.5 MPa for carbon dioxide solubility and pressures up to 12.1 MPa for methane solubility. The experiments were performed in an autoclave type phase equilibrium apparatus using the total pressure method (synthetic method). All investigated systems show an increase of gas-solubility with the increase of pressure. A decrease of carbon dioxide solubility with the increase of temperature and an increase of methane solubility with the increase of temperature was observed. From the variation of solubility with temperature, partial molar enthalpy and entropy change of the solute for each mixture were calculated.     

Adsorption of CO2 on nitrogen-enriched activated carbon and zeolite 13X

Adsorption may be a potentially attractive alternative to capturing CO₂ from stationary sources in the context of Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS) technologies. Activated carbon and zeolites are state-of-art adsorbents which may be used for CO₂ adsorption, however physisorption alone tends to be insignificant at high temperatures. In the present work, commercial adsorbents have been impregnated with monoethanolamine (MEA) and triethanolamine (TEA) in order to investigate the effect of the modified surface chemistry on CO₂ adsorption, especially above room temperature. Adsorption isotherms for CO₂, N₂ and CH₄ were measured in a gravimetrically system in the pressure range of UHV to 10 bar, at 298 and 348 K for activated carbon and zeolite 13X supports. The adsorbed concentration of CO₂ was significantly higher than those of CH₄ and N₂ for both adsorbents in the whole pressure range studied, zeolite 13X showing a remarkable affinity for CO₂ at very low pressures. However, at 348 K, the adsorbed concentration of CO₂ decreases significantly. The supports impregnated with concentrated amine solutions and dried in air suffered a detrimental effect on the textural properties, although CO₂ uptake became much less susceptible to temperature increase. Impregnations carried out with dilute solution followed by drying in inert atmosphere yielded materials with very similar textural characteristics as compared to the parent support. CO₂ isotherms in such materials showed a significant change with similar capacities at 348 K as compared to the original support at 298 K in the case of activated carbons. The impregnated zeolite showed a decrease in adsorbed phase concentration in low pressures for a given temperature, but the adsorbed amount also seemed to be less affected by temperature. These results are promising and indicate that CO₂ adsorption may be enhanced despite high process temperatures (e.g. 348 K), if convenient impregnation and drying methods are applied.     

Electrochemical and Surface Analysis Studies on the Carbon Dioxide Corrosion of X‐65 Carbon Steel

A comprehensive study of the CO₂ corrosion of carbon steel (X‐65) at low partial pressures of CO₂ is reported in this paper. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Raman spectroscopy (RS), synchrotron radiation‐grazing incidence X‐ray diffraction (SR‐GIXRD), and electrode kinetic studies have confirmed that chukanovite, magnetite and siderite are the main corrosion products at low partial pressures of CO₂. Chukanovite forms predominantly in the presence of CO₂, while magnetite was found to be the major corrosion product in the absence of CO₂, although the majority of previous work based on conventional ex‐situ materials characterization techniques has implied that siderite is the main corrosion product. Here, it is shown that the nature of corrosion products is strongly dependent on the experimental conditions at low pressures of CO₂, which has not been elucidated in previous studies. Accordingly, this study has made a significant contribution to identifying the true nature of corrosion scales formed at low partial pressures of CO₂ allowing the development of effective anti‐corrosive agents for the control and prevention of carbon steel corrosion at low CO₂ partial pressures.