Bimodal micropore size distribution in active carbons

The porous structure of active carbon was compared with that of the original mineral coal and its carbonization products. The parameters of the porous structure were calculated from the adsorption isotherms of CO₂ (298 K) and H₂O (293 K). It was shown that carbonization of the original coal at 1120 K causes changes in the chemical composition, consolidation of the part which is amorphous to X-rays, generation of an ordered defect-containing structure on its basis, an increase in the volume of the micropores, and a decrease in the mean diameter. Activation of the carbonized coal affords a microporous structure with a bimodal size distribution.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 3, pp. 473–475, March, 1993.     

Preparation and characterization of high-specific-surface-area activated carbons from K2CO3-treated waste polyurethane

An activated carbon with high specific surface area was prepared from polyurethane foam by chemical activation with K2CO3 and the influences of carbonization temperature and impregnation ratio on the pore structure of the prepared activated carbon were investigated. It was found that the specific surface area of the activated carbon was at a maximum value (about 2800 m(2)/g) at a carbonization temperature of 1073 K and at an impregnation ratio of 1.0. It was concluded that the polyurethane foam structure was modified during impregnation by K2CO3, K2CO3 promoted charring during carbonization, and then the weight loss behavior was changed below 700 and above 1000 K, carbon in the char was consumed by K2CO3 reduction, and this led to the high specific surface area. The prepared activated carbon had a very sharp micropore size distribution, compared with the commercial activated carbon having high specific surface area. The amounts of three organic vapors (benzene, acetone, and octane) adsorbed on the prepared activated carbons was much larger than those on the traditional coconut shell AC and the same as those on the commercial activated carbon except for octane. We surmised that the high specific surface area was due to the modification of the carbonization behavior of polyurethane foam by K2CO3.     

Pyrolysis of Methane on Resistive MgO/SiC Catalyst

Dynamics of methane pyrolysis on the MgO/SiC catalyst was examined at different temperatures of the resistive catalyst. The conversion of methane on the MgO/SiC catalyst at 1200°C passes through a minimum (29%) by 60th minute, with the selectivity with respect to acetylene steadily increasing during the whole experiment. The scanning microscopy with EDAX analysis demonstrated that the full carbonization of the MgO/ SiC sample at 1200°C also occurs after 60 min of the experiment. It was found that a carbon coating of layered structure is formed on the catalyst surface in the course of the experiment, with C₂ hydrocarbons still present among the pyrolysis products. It was shown that carbon deposits formed on the surface of the MgO/SiC catalyst are catalytically active in the process of acetylene formation.     

单相碳化铁的制备及其表面吸附性质

在不同CO分压下制备了ε-Fe2C,χ'-Fe5C2和θ-Fe3C等系列单相碳化铁,经钝化处理后采用低温N2物理吸附、穆斯堡尔谱、激光拉曼光谱和程序升温脱附技术进行了详细的表征.结果发现,碳化气氛,尤其是碳化温度对所得碳化铁结晶度有所影响.碳化铁表面的积碳程度随碳化气氛中CO分压的升高而增高,而随碳化温度的升高呈抛物线形式增高;不同碳化条件下生成的碳化铁晶型和表面积碳的差异导致其织构性质及其吸附CO的能力不同,低温(200oC)碳化生成的Fe2C表面解离吸附CO的能力显著强于其他碳化铁;低碳气氛中生成的Fe3C上CO的解离脱附量最大;其他条件下生成的碳化铁因表面吸附活性位的破坏和大量沉积碳的生成使得解离吸附CO的能力较弱.     

Arsenic sorption and redox transformation on iron‐impregnated ordered mesoporous carbon

Ordered mesoporous carbon has been actively investigated for its potential applications as catalyst supports, electrochemical materials and gas separation media. In this study, we tested an iron‐modified ordered mesoporous carbon (FeOMC) for its ability to adsorb arsenic from the aqueous phase. The FeOMC synthesis involved the preparation of an ordered silica template SBA‐15, in situ polymerization of acrylic acid in the template, carbonization and template removal to obtain the ordered mesoporous carbon, and iron impregnation. Batch experiments showed that the pH level of the solution had a major impact on arsenic sorption. Further, we found that the presence of anions (i.e. PO₄^3? and SiO₃^2?) could significantly decrease the sorption of both arsenate and arsenite. Arsenite oxidation to arsenate was observed in alkaline solutions, with or without anions being present. The oxidation of arsenite was attributed to both direct and catalytic reactions with the surface functional groups on the ordered mesoporous carbon. Adsorption of arsenic on FeOMC could be well explained by the surface complexation model. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Structural and sorption properties of carbon replicas obtained by matrix carbonization of organic precursors in SBA-15 and KIT-6

We have carried out a comparative study of matrix carbonization of some organic precursors (sucrose, polydivinylbenzene, polyphenol-formaldehyde, polyacrylonitrile, acetonitrile) in SBA-15 and KIT-6 silica mesoporous molecular sieves. We have shown that carbon mesoporous molecular sieves of the CMK-8 type, obtained in KIT-6 mesopores, have better adsorption characteristics due to the features of the three-dimensional cubic structure, the larger pore volume and thickness of the walls of the framework. The maximum micropore volume is observed in CMK-3 and CMK-8, obtained by carbonization of polyphenol-formaldehyde and polydivinylbenzene, while the greatest specific surface area is observed on carbonization of sucrose, where the maximum hydrogen adsorption capacity is achieved at a level of ∼1.4 wt.% (77 K, 1 atm). We show that the mesopore surface coverage by hydrogen in carbon mesoporous molecular sieves increases as the degree of graphitization increases.     

Highly ordered three dimensional macroporous carbon spheres and their acid catalytic properties

Highly ordered three dimensional macroporous carbon spheres bearing sulfonic acid groups (MPCS-SO₃H) were prepared by incomplete carbonization of glucose in silica crystal bead template, followed by sulfonation and removal of the template. The composition and porous structure of the obtained carbon spheres were investigated by physical adsorption of nitrogen, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy techniques. While the Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy was used to characterize the functional groups on the surface of carbon spheres. The catalytic properties of the MPCS-SO₃H were evaluated by esterification of ethanol with acetic acid, indicating that MPCS-SO₃H possess remarkable catalytic performance (high stability and acid catalytic ability) for the esterification.     

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。     

Synthesis of activated carbon foams with high specific surface area using polyurethane elastomer templates for effective removal of methylene blue

Carbon foams have gained significant attention due to their tuneable properties that enable a wide range of applications including catalysis, energy storage and wastewater treatment. Novel synthesis pathways enable novel applications via yielding complex, hierarchical material structure. In this work, activated carbon foams (ACFs) were produced from waste polyurethane elastomer templates using different synthesis pathways, including a novel one-step method. Uniquely, the produced foams exhibited complex structure and contained carbon microspheres. The ACFs were synthesized by impregnating the elastomers in an acidified sucrose solution followed by direct activation using CO₂ at 1000 ℃. Different pyrolysis and activation conditions were investigated. The ACFs were characterized by a high specific surface area (S_BET) of 2172 m²/g and an enhanced pore volume of 1.08 cm³/g. Computer tomography and morphological studies revealed an inhomogeneous porous structure and the presence of numerous carbon spheres of varying sizes embedded in the porous network of the three-dimensional carbon foam. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy indicated that the obtained carbon foam was amorphous and of turbostratic structure. Moreover, the activation process enhanced the surface of the carbon foam, making it more hydrophilic via altering pore size distribution and introducing oxygen functional groups. In equilibrium, the adsorption of methylene blue on ACF followed the Langmuir isotherm model with a maximum adsorption capacity of 592 mg/g. Based on these results, the produced ACFs have potential applications as adsorbents, catalyst support and electrode material in energy storage systems.     

In-situ carbonization approach for the binder-free Ir-dispersed ordered mesoporous carbon hydrogen evolution electrode

A binder-free Ir-dispersed ordered mesoporous carbon(Ir-OMC) catalytic electrode has been prepared through a designed in-situ carbonization method, which involves coating resorcinol and formaldehyde mixtures with iridium precursors onto the three-dimensional nickel foam framework, followed by insitu calcination in N_2 atmosphere at 800 ℃ for 3 h. This electrode shows a large surface area, ordered mesoporous structure and homogeneous distribution of metal nanoparticles. It presents good activity and stability towards hydrogen evolution reaction, which is attributed to the efficient mass and electron transport from the intimate contact among Ir nanoparticles, ordered mesoporous carbon matrix and 3 D conductive substrate. We hope that this in-situ carbonization synthetic route can also be applied to design more high-performance catalysts for water splitting, fuel cells and other clean energy devices.     

Boron-doped carbon prepared from PFO as a lithium-ion battery anode

A petroleum-based Li-ion battery anode was prepared by thermal condensation of pyrolysis fuel oil (PFO) and a subsequent carbonization process. H₃BO₃ was used as a catalyst for efficient thermal condensation, carbonization and battery performance. The influence of the carbonization temperature on the carbon structure and battery performance was also investigated. Notably, H₃BO₃ promoted thermal condensation and formation of a graphitic carbon structure and acted as a boron doping agent. Boron-doping attenuated the highly active sites in carbon and effectively controlled formation of the SEI layer, which resulted in an increase in the initial efficiency of the anode. For the sample carbonized at 900 °C, a reversible capacity of 301 mAh/g and an initial efficiency of 78.6% were obtained. In addition, the samples obtained at different carbonization temperatures were all highly stable over 50 cycles, with capacity retentions greater than 90%.     

Kinetics of radiation-induced carbonization of poly(vinylidene fluoride) film surface

The kinetics of radiation-induced carbonization of PVDF surfaces aiming at carbyne (one-dimensional carbon allotrope) synthesis have been studied. A sample of poly(vinylidene fluoride) film was exposed to Mg Kα radiation (?ω = 1253.6 eV) in an ESCALAB Mk II spectrometer for 14 h with the aim of surface carbonization. Some 221 spectra of C 1s electrons were measured and expanded using 7 Gaussian curves to reveal and identify species being created on the film surface during its carbonization. A decrease in the content of CF₂ groups, the emergence of CF species in two different states, and growth of a number of fluorine-free carbon atoms have been detected. Simultaneous variations of CH/CH₂, CF and CF₂ peaks suggest elimination of H and F atoms as HF. A proposed model shows three probabilistic factors affecting the rate of degradation, one of which remains uncertain.     

Molecular‐Sieve Honeycomb for Air Separation from Picea abies

The cellular structure of Norway spruce (Picea abies) was transformed via a simple, single‐step carbonization process into a carbon monolith with molecular‐sieve properties. The monolith exhibited a genuine honeycomb structure derived from the original intrinsic H₂O channels of the wood. The micropores formed during carbonization from the walls of the channels were shown to have a high adsorption capacity. The honeycomb monolith was tested for air separation. Micropore diffusion of N₂ and O₂ was found by the frequency‐response (FR) technique to be the rate‐controlling process of mass transport.     

Ultra high density carbon fiber derived from isotactic polypropylene fiber without skin-core structure

Polypropylene (PP)-based carbon fibers were prepared by sulfonation process of isotactic PP fibers with concentrated sulfuric acid, followed by stress-less carbonization under nitrogen atmosphere. The stabilization behaviors of PP fiber under different sulfonation temperatures and time were discussed. The carbonization behavior of the stabilized PP fibers under different carbonization temperatures, as well as the mechanical performance of the obtained carbon fibers were investigated. The results indicated that linear PP molecule were effectively converted into thermally stable structure at higher temperature (≥130°C) in short time (2 h) through sulfonation-desulfonation reaction, among which ordered graphite structure has been formed prior to the carbonization process. Meanwhile, the carbon fibers were considerably densified by increasing the sulfonation temperature and carbonization temperature, and a bulk density of 1.96 g/cm³ was achieved. Moreover, the temperature and time of the sulfonation process as well as the temperature of the carbonization process were regulated, and carbon fibers with tensile strength of 262.3 MPa was obtained, which was superior to that of 208.1 MPa for the linear low density polyethylene-based carbon fibers reported previously. Isotactic PP was proved to be a promising candidate to develop carbon fibers with tunable graphite structure and mechanical performance.     

Structural and surface heterogeneity of phosphorus-containing polyimide-derived carbons: effect of heat treatment temperature

Phosphorus-containing carbons have been obtained by carbonization of porous copolymer of 4,4′-bis(maleimidodiphenyl)methane (50 mol%) and divinylbenzene (50 mol%) in presence of phosphoric acid at temperatures 400–1000 °C. Porous structure was analyzed by nitrogen adsorption isotherms while surface chemistry was investigated by potentiometric titration method. It has been shown that carbons obtained at 500–1000 °C are micro-mesoporous with pore sizes of 1–1.1, 2–3 and 5.4 nm. The most developed porosity was achieved at 600 °C reaching BET surface area 890 m²/g and total pore volume 0.45 cm³/g. Carbons obtained by carbonization of polyimide precursor in presence of phosphoric acid showed acidic character with 30–40 % of phosphate surface groups. Maximum total amount of acidic surface groups was achieved at 800 °C reaching 3.2 mmol/g. Assignment of strongly acidic surface groups to phosphates was corroborated by pK value, phosphorus content and thermal gravimetric analysis.     

Surface structural and energetic heterogeneity of carbon materials prepared from corn grains using steam and H3PO4‐steam activations

The porous activated carbons (ACs) were prepared from corn grains through physical (steam) and chemical–physical (H₃PO₄‐steam) activations. The effects of steam activation temperature (700–900 °C) on pore development, surface roughness, and energetic heterogeneity were investigated in both activations. Also, the effect of prior carbonization on H₃PO₄‐steam activation was studied. The physical properties, surface fractal dimensions, and adsorption energy distributions of ACs were determined from nitrogen adsorption–desorption isotherm data. Both physical and chemical–physical activations show that the AC with higher surface area, relatively smoother surface, and energetically heterogeneous surface could be produced at a maximum steam activation temperature (900 °C). Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Preparation and characterization of bimodal porous carbons derived from a styrene-divinylbenzene copolymer

A styrene/divinylbenzene copolymer has been used as precursor for making porous carbons with bimodal pore size distributions (i.e., with both microporosity and mesoporosity). Pretreatment of the as-received copolymer by mild oxidation in air, significantly increased the carbon yield after carbonization. Reactivity studies of the polymer-based chars to CO₂ clearly show the influences of some important factors such as carbonization temperature, heating rate, soak time on char reactivities. Bimodal porous carbons were prepared by carbonization of the preoxidized styrene/divinylbenzene copolymer in N₂, followed by activation in CO₂ at different temperatures to different levels of burnoff. The pore structures of the porous carbons produced have been characterized by various techniques such as gas adsorption and mercury porosimetry. The surfaces of the porous carbons produced, and a commercial carbon adsorbent, have been modified with HNO₃ and H₂O₂ treatment at various conditions. Characterization of the surface oxygen functionality, both quantitatively and qualitatively, has been achieved using techniques such as Linear Temperature Programed Desorption (LTPD) and selective neutralization of bases.     

Fabrication of carbon fibers with nanoporous morphologies from electrospun polyacrylonitrile/poly(L‐lactide) blends

Porous carbon nanofibers were prepared through electrospinning a blend solution of polyacrylonitrile and poly(L ‐lactide), followed by carbonization at different temperatures and in different atmospheres. Structural features of these porous carbon nanofibers were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, X‐ray powder diffraction, and Raman spectroscopy. Surface area and pore structure were evaluated using the nitrogen adsorption technique. It was found that carbon fibers prepared by this scalable and relatively economical method exhibited a porous surface morphology with high specific surface area and large pore volume. The fiber diameter, surface area, pore volume, bulky crystalline structure, and surface crystalline structure of these carbon nanofibers showed a strong dependence on the polymer precursor composition and carbonization condition. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 47: 493–503, 2009     

Canonical Monte Carlo simulation of adsorption of O2 and N2 mixture on single walled carbon nanotube at different temperatures and pressures

Adsorption of pure and mixtures of O₂ and N₂ on isolated single‐walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) have been investigated at the subcritical (77 K) and different supercritical (273, 293, and 313K) temperatures for the pressure range between 1 and 31 MPa using (N,V,T) Monte Carlo simulation. Both O₂ and N₂ gravimetric storage capacity exhibit similar behaviors, gas adsorption is higher on outer surface of tube, compared to the inner surface. Results are consistent with the experimental adsorption measurements. All adsorption isotherms for pure and mixture of O₂ and N₂ are characterized by type I (Langmuir shape), indicating enhanced solid‐fluid interactions. Comparative studies reveal that, under identical conditions, O₂ adsorption is higher than N₂ adsorption, due to the adsorbate structure. Excess amount of O₂ and N₂ adsorption reach to a maximum at each temperature and specified pressure which can be suggested an optimum pressure for O₂ and N₂ storage. In addition, adsorptions of O₂ and N₂ mixtures have been investigated in two different compositions: (i) an equimolar gas mixture and (ii) air composition. Also, selectivity of nanotube to adsorption of O₂ and N₂ gases has been calculated for air composition at ambient condition. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2010     

Adsorption and Thermodynamic Study of Pyrogenic Alumina Properties

Adsorption of n-pentane, triethylamine, diethyl ether, acetonitrile and chloroform has been investigated on pyrogenic alumina (S=140 m² g⁻¹). The results of our studies have shown the presence of active sites on the surface of pyrogenic alumina with irreversible adsorption of electron-donating molecules and CHCl₃ and the dependence of energetic surface properties on electronic structure of adsorbate, quantity of adsorbed substance and hydration degree of the surface. On the hydrated oxide surface the water molecules screen the active sites of the surface, which resulted in changing of interaction energy of adsorbent-adsorbate and decreasing the region of irreversible adsorption of organic bases and CH-acid. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.