In Situ Observation of Growth Process of alpha-L-Glutamic Acid with Atomic Force Microscopy

The surface and adsorption characteristics of carbon blacks treated with H(3)PO(4), KOH, and C(6)H(6) were investigated. The equilibrium spreading pressure (pi(e)), surface energy (gamma(s)), and specific surface area (S(BET)) were studied by the BET method with N(2) adsorption. In this work, an interpretation based on the nitrogen amount adsorbed for filling a monolayer (a(0)) was proposed for the determination of the Gibbs free energy of nitrogen adsorption, allowing evaluation of the equilibrium spreading pressure or London dispersive component of the surface free energy of the carbon blacks studied. Also, the microstructures of the carbon blacks treated were investigated by transmission electron microscopy. Acidic treatment led to significant decreases in adsorption amount, S(BET), and surface free energy of the carbon blacks, due to aggregation of the microstructures and increasing weight of the swollen specimen in an equilibrium state. Polar basic and nonpolar chemical treatments resulted in an increase of the equilibrium spreading pressure or London dispersive component of surface free energy of the carbon blacks without significantly changing the surface and adsorption properties and microstructures. Results from the surface energetics and parameter of polymer-filler interaction (chi) showed that the tearing energy of the composites is greatly dependent on the carbon blacks studied in the treatment. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.     

An investigation of the activity of carbon blacks recovered from elastomer composites

The activity of carbon blacks recovered from elastomer systems is determined by use of a temperature jump technique imposed on the carbon blacks in air using a TG unit. The elastomer composites were composed of styrene-butadiene rubber (SRR), fillers, activators, accelerators together with a number of different carbon blacks. The organic content was pyrolyzed away by heating in nitrogen, the atmosphere was changed to air and the activity of the carbons was assessed by the temperature jump method. This enables the Arrhenius parameters to be established for the gasification of the carbons in air. This data was compared with the oxidation rates of carbons before they were introduced into the elastomer system. Nitrogen adsorption surface areas based on a BET analysis showed that the surface area of the carbons was similar before and after incorporation into the composite. The kinetic parameters of the carbons were however somewhat altered by incorporation into the elastomer systems, but their order of activity towards the gasification process as assessed by their relative rate of gasification remained the same. This is explained by postulating that the higher rates of oxidation is associated with the present of edge carbon atoms at the surface compared to the much slower oxidation rates of the “basel” plane carbon atoms. It appears that this surface structure is largely retained in the composite carbon-elastomer system. This enables some speculation regarding the reinforcing action of certain carbon blacks in the composite system.     

Comparison of physical and gas chromatographic properties of sterling FT and carbopack C graphitized carbon blacks

A comparison of Sterling FT, a graphitized carbon black used widely in ad- sorption and gas chromatography, and Carbopack C, a commercially available graphitized carbon black, was made in terms of retention parameters, heats of adsorption and their behaviour at various coating percentages.

The effects induced by hydrogen treatment at high temperature are compared, and it is shown that graphs of the heat of adsorption versus percentage of liquid phase added are very useful in understanding the difference in the surface properties of the two materials. The advantages of the two carbon blacks in practical gas chromato- graphy are discussed.     

Nanosize catalysts based on carbon materials promoted by cobalt tetra(<Emphasis Type="Italic">para</Emphasis>-methoxyphenyl) porphyrin pyropolymer for oxygen electroreduction

We present the results of electrochemical and structural investigations of several carbon materials: carbon blacks AD 100 and XC 72, ultradisperse diamond (UDD), multiwalled nanotubes (MWNT), various types of filament-like carbon materials (CFC series), and similar carbon materials promoted with cobalt tetra(para-methoxyphenyl) porphyrin (CoTMPhP) pyropolymer (PP). The electrochemical studies were performed at room temperature in 0.5 M H₂SO₄ by using a rotating disk electrode (RDE), a rotating ring-disk electrode (RRDE) (a thin layer of test material was applied onto the disk electrode), and a floating electrode. Structural characterization of initial and promoted carbon materials involved the determination of specific surface area by the BET method and by the polarization capacitance from cyclic voltammograms, and the particle morphology and dimensions by the transmission electron microscopy (TEM) method. The study of kinetics and mechanism of oxygen electroreduction on carbon materials promoted with CoTMPhP PP showed that the catalysts based on carbon materials of CFC and UDD series possess high specific activity in this reaction and high selectivity with respect to oxygen reduction to water. These catalysts are superior to the catalysts, in which carbon blacks AD 100 and XC 72 are used as the supports, in the specific activity.     

Application of thermal analysis to carbon black-elastomer systems

In this study a relationship between the surface and textural properties of carbon blacks and the gasification process induced thermally in air is noted. A temperature jump method was used to follow the gasification in air and to establish the relevant Arrhenius parameters. This can be associated with the activity of ‘basal’ plane carbon atoms as well as ‘edge’ carbon atoms at the surface. This is based on a model of carbon black structure consisting of the irregular packing of small graphite carbon structures. The carbon black surface was measured using a single measurement of adsorption based essentially on the BET volumetric method. The carbon black surface had a rate of oxidation per unit are which clearly indicated that the lower area carbon blacks had a predominately active area of ‘edge’ atoms at the surface while the surface of the higher area carbon blacks had a predominate amount of ‘basal’ plane graphite carbon atoms.     

Synthesis of ZnO photocatalyst modified with activated carbon for a perfect degradation of ciprofloxacin and its secondary pollutants

The proposed research, presents the synthesis, characterization, and photocatalytic accomplishment of ZnO nanoplate (ZnOs) modified with activated carbon derived from Konar bark. The obtained nanocomposite (photocatalyst) was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET). First, the ZnO photocatalyst and activated carbon (AC) were prepared separately; then, the ZnO photocatalyst was modified with activated carbon. Various parameters namely pH, degradation time, and photocatalyst dose were optimized and studied in multivariate method by design expert7 software. The synergic efficiency of ZnO‐AC (adsorbent/photocatalyst) exhibited a good rate of ciprofloxacin (CIP) removal under visible irradiation. In addition, first pseudo order kinetic and isotherms equations were calculated. Moreover, the identification of degradation products was performed by ultra performance liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometer (UPLC‐MS/MS). It is for the first time that a ZnO photocatalyst modified with activated carbon (ZnO‐AC) applied for CIP degradation.     

Surface microstructure of carbon black: Advances in characterization by scanning tunneling microscopy

The recent advances in the characterization of the surface structure of carbon black by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) are reported. The atomic organization, at the surfaces of several carbon blacks, is well resolved by STM and a local paracrystalline structure model is proposed, where the distorted carbon layer and thus the unequal inter-layer distance are evidenced on the basis of the classical turbostratic stacking. The quantitative analysis of the STM image, which enables a quantitative assessment of the surface crystallinity and of the nanoscale roughness, is presented.     

Evaluation of multi-walled carbon nanotubes as gas chromatographic column packing

Purified multi-walled carbon nanotubes (PMWCNTs), activated charcoal and graphitized carbon black (Carbopack B) were used as column packing materials to compare their separation ability and other gas chromatographic behavior for aromatic hydrocarbons, alkanes, halogenated hydrocarbons, alcohols, ketones, esters, and ethers. The results show that PMWCNTs can be an excellent gas chromatographic packing material. Compared to Carbopack B with the same surface area, PMWCNTs had a stronger retention ability, a more homogenous surface and smaller theoretical plate numbers. Polar compounds can present symmetric peaks on PMWCNTs. PMWCNTs were found to be an interesting alternative adsorbent to activated charcoal and Carbopack B as gas chromatographic column packing material for volatile compounds, especially those with relatively low boiling points.     

Surface characterization of electrodeposited silver on activated carbon for bactericidal purposes

The use of an electrochemical reactor operated under different flow conditions to deposit silver from aqueous AgNO(3) solutions and tartaric acid as an organic additive on a commercial activated carbon with ultimate bactericidal applications in water purification processes is presented. The characterization of carbon/silver samples was studied by BET, FTIR, X-ray diffraction, XPS, and SEM techniques. The bactericidal activity of the carbon/silver samples was tested on drinking water samples inoculated with E. coli. A reduction of carbon surface area was detected and was caused by increased amounts of silver deposited on carbon samples. Adherent silver deposits were obtained on the carbon/silver samples. X-ray diffraction studies of carbon with electrodeposited silver showed two different preferential deposition planes, [111] and [220]. The FTIR results confirm the presence of carboxyl, phenolic, quinone, and ether surface groups. The XPS results suggest the formation of Ag(2)O and AgO surface species and confirm the reduction of silver to the metallic form. Antimicrobial activity toward E. coli indicated reductions by up to 7 orders of magnitude in the log CFU/mL in just 10 min contact time and for silver contents of 2.47 wt%.     

多壁碳纳米管的纯化

用900℃高温氢气处理以及5 mol/L盐酸回流的方法，纯化了一种由甲烷在Ni- Mg-O催化剂上裂解生长的多壁碳纳米管（MWCNTs），考察了不同纯化阶段MWCNTs的 吸水率、比表面积、Ni和Mg残留量以及在不同温度下苯、正己烷、乙醇、丙酮四种 化合物在MWCNTs填充色谱柱上的脱附率的变化，并用透射电镜观察了MWCNTs的形态 。结果表明，高温氢气处理可去除MWCNTs的无定形碳和表面极性基团，使其比表面 积和吸水率减小，同时可打开MWCNTs端口。高温氢气处理后，再用盐酸回流即容易 去除MWCNTs中单用盐酸回流方法无法去除的Ni.经过纯化的MWCNTs的吸水率远小于 活性碳，比Carbopack B稍大，比表面积和Carbopack B相近。苯、正己烷、己醇、 丙酮四种化合物在纯化的MWCNTs填充色谱柱上的脱附率和Carbopack B的相同。经 纯化的MWCNTs的Ni残留量为30 μg/g，Mg残留量低于检测限（10 μg/g）。由于管 腔的存在，纯化的MWCNTs对有机物的保留能力大于Carbopack B。它可以作为气相 色谱固定相和吸附挥发性有机物的吸附剂。     

Discussion of thermodynamic data obtained by adsorption gas chromatography on carbograph 6

Summary Carbograph 6, a new graphitized carbon black with a specific surface area of 203 m² g⁻¹, as measured by BET, both uncoated and coated with up to 12% (w/w) of squalane, a non-polar stationary phase, has been studied by gas chromatographic determination of the enthalpy, entropy, and free energy of adsorption of a series of alkanes (C₂−C₆) and benzene. The data obtained are discussed and compared with those available in the literature for other graphitized carbon blacks. An example of a separation obtaned with Carbograph 6 is reported.     

Spontaneous functionalization of carbon black by reaction with 4-nitrophenyldiazonium cations

The mechanism of the spontaneous chemical functionalization of Vulcan carbon black by reaction with 4-nitrophenyl diazonium cations was investigated by varying the reaction conditions. First, the carbon black was oxidized by nitric acid reflux to introduce oxygenated functionalities onto the surface prior to the functionalization step. Second, a reducing agent (H3PO2) was added to a solution containing 4-nitrobenzene diazonium tetrafluoroborate to generate 4-nitrophenyl radicals homogeneously in the bulk solution. The functionalized carbons were characterized by elemental analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and nitrogen adsorption isotherms using the BET isotherm and DFT Monte Carlo simulations. These characterization methods were employed to determine the grafting yield as a function of the reaction conditions. Interestingly, the grafting yield was not affected by a change in the reaction conditions. An average nitrogen content of 1.4 +/- 0.1 atom % was found by elemental analysis, and XPS showed a nitrogen surface concentration of about 3.5%. XPS also indicated an important decrease in the concentration of oxygenated functionalities upon grafting 4-nitrophenyl moieties onto the oxidized carbon black. Presumably, in this case the grafting involves either the coupling of carboxylate and 4-nitrophenyl radicals or, more likely, a concerted decarboxylation where the diazonium cation, acting as an electrophile, replaces the oxygenated groups and loss of CO2. The nitrogen adsorption isotherms of the functionalized carbon blacks suggested that the grafted groups were most probably localized at the entrance of the micropores.     

Experimental and molecular statistical study of alkyladamantane adsorption on graphitized thermal carbon black

Experimental measurements and molecular statistics methods were used to calculate thermodynamic characteristics of adsorption (TCA) of alkyladamantanes of different structure on the surface of hydrogen-treated graphitized thermal carbon black (GTCB) Carbopack C HT. High selectivity of separation of isomeric alkyladamantanes on GTCB is due to specific features of their geometry and electronic structure. The influence of the spatial structure of adsorbates on the TCA was established. Special attention was given to analysis of the heat capacities of adsorption. The best agreement between the experimental TCA and those calculated by the molecular statistics methods is achieved when the “cage effect“ in the adamantane ring is taken into account. The corresponding corrections are introduced into the parameters of the atom-atomic potential function of pair intermolecular interaction of the Me groups with the carbon atoms of the basal face of graphite, which are localized in the nodal positions of the lattice. The critical parameters for a large group of alkyladamantanes were calculated in terms of the additive group Lydersen method. A set of various topological indices used further for constructing structure-retention correlations on GTCB was obtained.     

Preparation and characteristics of electrospun activated carbon materials having meso- and macropores

Mesoporous activated carbon samples were prepared from electrospun PAN-based carbon fibers using physical activation with silica. Textural characterization was performed using nitrogen adsorption at 77 K. The BET specific surface area and pore size distribution of silica activated carbon materials were investigated. According to the increment of silica, BET specific surface area was increased about thirty times and it was found that silica activated carbon materials were highly mesoporous by studying pore surface distribution and pore volume distribution. Surface morphology of silica activated carbon materials were observed by SEM images. The spherical typed carbon materials were investigated. The diameter of spherical typed carbon materials was increased in proportional of the increment of silica.     

Crosslinking of epoxy resins at interfaces. IV. Anhydride-cured resins at carbon and graphite surfaces

Dispersions of carbon blacks and chopped carbon fibers in epoxy resins may be characterized by infrared internal reflection spectroscopy (IR–IRS). The high surface areas of the carbons (often ≥ 100 m²/g) ensure a high degree of interfacial contact between the carbon surface and the polymer. The crosslinking kinetics and final crosslinked state of an anhydride-cured epoxy resin are shown to be affected strongly by the carbons through adsorption of the tertiary amine catalyst at oxidation sites on the carbon surface. Oxidative treatments of the carbons (nitric acid oxidation, air oxidation) increase the effect on the crosslinking chemistry. Carbon dioxide treatment of the carbons, which produces a basic surface, reduces the effect on the crosslinking. The effects on the crosslinking kinetics were confirmed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The relevance of these results to the characterization of the interphase in carbon fiber/epoxy composites is discussed.     

Synthesis and electrochemical properties of carbon nanotubes obtained by pyrolysis of acetylene using AB5 alloy

The paper discusses the efficiency of catalytic synthesis and structure of multi-wall carbon nanotubes obtained by acetylene decomposition over Mm (mischmetal)-based multi-component alloy of AB₅ type. Different parameters of catalytic chemical vapor deposition process have an influence on the efficiency. Some of them were changed to obtain the highest amount of carbon material. The samples were purified by acid and were characterized by BET surface area measurements, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy analysis. However, both catalyst and parameters of process (such as the flow rate of acetylene) need further examination to make it cost effective. The capacitance properties of carbon nanotubes as electrode materials for electrochemical capacitors are discussed. It has been shown that carbon nanotubes show moderate values of capacitance. In the form of a network, the material provides good charge propagation and can be used as a support and additive for different composite electrode materials.     

Application of quasi-equilibrated thermodesorption of hexane and cyclohexane for characterization of porosity of zeolites and ordered mesoporous silicas

Quasi equilibrated temperature programmed desorption and adsorption (QE-TPDA) of hexane and cyclohexane was applied for characterization of zeolites 5A, ZSM-5, 13X, Y, NaMOR and ordered mesoporous silicas MCM-41, MCM-41/TMB, SBA-15 and HMS. Similar QE-TPDA profiles of hexane and cyclohexane with a single desorption maximum were observed for the wide pore zeolites. No adsorption of cyclohexane for zeolite 5A and a single desorption maximum for ZSM-5 were found, while two-step desorption profiles of hexane were observed for these zeolites. Similar values of the adsorption enthalpy and entropy of hexane and cyclohexane were obtained by fitting the Langmuir model functions for the zeolites X and Y. For NaMOR and ZSM-5 larger differences in these parameters were found. A single desorption peak found at low temperatures in the QE-TPDA profiles of hexane and cyclohexane for the studied silicas was attributed to the multilayered adsorption on their mesopore surface. The adsorption isobars calculated from the thermodesorption profiles were fitted with the BET function. This way values of the specific surface area and the adsorption heat were calculated. Additionally values of the initial heat of adsorption were found by fitting the Henry’s law to the high-temperature sections of the linearized isobars. The largest deviations from the BET and Henry functions and the largest values of the adsorption heats found for SBA-15 indicated the greatest heterogeneity of the adsorption sites on its surface.     

Development and validation of an automated monitoring system for oxygenated volatile organic compounds and nitrile compounds in ambient air

Few studies were conducted on oxygenated volatile organic compounds (OVOC) because of problems encountered during the sampling/analyzing steps induced by water in sampled air. Consequently, there is a lack of knowledge of their spatial and temporal trends and their origins in ambient air. In this study, an analyzer consisted of a thermal desorber (TD) interfaced with a gas chromatograph (GC) and a flame ionization detector (FID) was developed for online measurements of 18 OVOC in ambient air including 4 alcohols, 6 aldehydes, 3 ketones, 3 ethers, 2 esters and 4 nitriles. The main difficulty was to overcome the humidity effect without loss of compounds. Water amount in the sampled air was reduced by the trap composition (two hydrophobic graphitized carbons—Carbopack B:Carbopack X), the trap temperature (held at 12.5 °C), by diluting (50:50) the sample with dry air before the preconcentration step and a trap purge with helium. Humidity management allowed the use of a polar CP-Lowox column in order to separate the polar compounds from the hydrocarbon/aromatic matrix. The safe sampling volume for the dual-sorbent trap 75 mg Carbopack X:5 mg Carbopack B was found to 405 mL for ethanol by analyzing a standard mixture at a relative humidity of 80%. Detection limits ranging from 10 ppt for ETBE to 90 ppt for ethanol were obtained for 18 compounds for a sampling volume of 405 mL. Good repeatabilities were obtained at two levels of concentration (relative standard deviation <5%). The calibration (ranging from 0.5 to 10 ppb) was set up at three different levels of relative humidity to test the humidity effect on the response coefficients. Results showed that the response coefficients of all compounds were less affected by humidity except for those of ethanol and acetonitrile (decrease respectively of 30% and 20%). The target compounds analysis shows good reproducibility with response coefficient variability of less then 10% of the mean initial value of calibration for all the compounds. Hourly ambient air measurements were conducted in an urban site in order to test this method. On the basis of these measurements, ethanol, acetone and acetaldehyde have shown the highest concentration levels with an average of 2.10, 1.75 and 1.37 ppb respectively. The daily evolution of some OVOC, namely ethanol and acetaldehyde, was attributed to emissions from motor vehicles while acetone has a different temporal evolution that can be probably associated with remote sources.     

Needle trap micro-extraction for VOC analysis: Effects of packing materials and desorption parameters

Combining advantages of SPE and SPME needle trap devices (NTD) represent promising new tools for a robust and reproducible sample preparation. This study was intended to investigate the effect of different packing materials on efficacy and reproducibility of VOC analysis by means of needle trap micro extraction (NTME). NTDs with a side hole design and containing different combinations of PDMS, DVB and Carbopack X and Carboxen 1000 and NTDs containing a single layer organic polymer of methacrylic acid and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate were investigated with respect to reproducibility, LODs and LOQs, carry over and storage. NTDs were loaded with VOC standard gas mixtures containing saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons, oxygenated and aromatic compounds. Volatile substances were thermally desorbed from the NTDs using fast expansive flow technique and separated, identified and quantified by means of GC–MS. Optimal desorption temperatures between 200 and 290 °C could be identified for the different types of NTDs with respect to desorption efficiency and variation. Carry over was below 6% for polymer packed needles and up to 67% in PDMS/Carboxen 1000 NTDs. Intra and inter needle variation was best for polymer NTDs and consistently below 9% for this type of NTD. LODs and LOQs were in the range of some ng/L. Sensitivity of the method could be improved by increasing sample volume. NTDs packed with a copolymer of methacrylic acid and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate were universally applicable for sample preparation in VOC analysis. If aromatic compounds were to be determined DVB/Carboxen 1000 and DVB/Carbopack X/Carboxen 1000 devices could be considered as an alternative. PDMS/Carbopack X/Carboxen 1000 NTDs may represent a good alternative for the analysis of hydrocarbons and aldehydes. NTME represents a powerful tool for different application areas, from environmental monitoring to breath analysis.     

Research on the BET Surface Area and Packing of Molecules on the Activated Carbon

Adsorption of different aromatic compounds (two of them are electrolytes) onto an untreated activated carbon (F100) is investigated. The experimental isotherms are fitted into Langmuir homogenous and heterogeneous Model. Theoretical maximum adsorption capacities that are based on the BET surface area of the adsorbent cannot be close to the real value. The affinity and the heterogeneity of the adsorption system observed to be related to the pK_a of the solutes. The maximum adsorption capacity (Q _max) of activated carbon for each solute dependent on the molecular area as well as the type of functional group attached on the aromatic compound and also pH of solution. The arrangement of the molecules on the carbon surface is not face down. Furthermore, it is illustrated that the packing arrangement is most likely edge to face (sorbate-sorbent) with various tilt angles.For characterization of the carbon, the N₂ and CO₂ adsorption were used. X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) measurement was used to surface elemental analysis of activated carbon.