Microbalance Techniques in Design and Control of Synthetic Carbons

Peculiarities of carbonization of two styrene/divinylbenzene precursors (one sulfonated, another aminated and phosphorylated) have been investigated by thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis. It was shown that phosphorus compounds incorporate into carbon structure and cause delayed carbonization. Porous structure and surface properties of synthetic carbons have been investigated by standard (BET, α_s method, DA) and advanced (AED, PSD, regularization) methods from benzene and water adsorption isotherms. It was shown that phosphorus-containing carbon is less microporous and shows highly hydrophilic surface. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

On the chemical structure of phosphorus compounds in phosphoric acid-activated carbon

Chemical structure of phosphorus species in polymer-based phosphoric acid-activated carbon SP800 was investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. It has been shown that most probable structure for phosphorus species is condensed phosphates bound to carbon lattice via COP bonding.     

Comparison of heterogeneous pore models QSDFT and 2D-NLDFT and computer programs ASiQwin and SAIEUS for calculation of pore size distribution

The pore size distributions (PSD) of selected carbons were calculated from their nitrogen adsorption isotherms using both the QSDFT model implemented in ASiQwin version 3.0 software (Quantachrome Instruments) and 2D-NLDFT model implemented in SAIEUS software (Micromeritics). The results showed that both the QSDFT and the 2D-NLDFT methods give similar PSDs despite the different methods for accounting for the heterogeneity of the carbon adsorbent. The characteristic features of the methods and software were discussed and possible improvements were proposed.     

Kinetics of protein adsorption by nanoporous carbons with different pore size

Kinetics of bovine serum albumin and ovalbumin adsorption by nanoporous carbons with different main pore sizes (1.6, 5, 7.8 and 28 nm) was studied. Experimental kinetics curves were well described by multi-exponential equation with different number of exponents (from 1 to 4). Protein adsorption kinetics showed significant dependence on pore size of carbonaceous adsorbent. Correlation between pore size distribution and amount of protein adsorbed revealed threshold pore size 7.3 nm for BSA and 6.8 nm for OVA, which are close to hydrodynamic diameter of protein molecules. The fastest and the highest adsorption of proteins were observed in carbons having developed porosity with pore sizes larger than 15 nm.     

Nanostructured carbons for solid phase extraction

Nanostructured carbons have been obtained by the template method using zeolite NaY and silica gels (SG60, Fluka and ZK, POCh) as structure directing agents. Texture and porous structure of carbons were characterized by TEM, XRD and nitrogen adsorption. Surface chemistry was investigated by the potentiometric titration method. It has been shown that all carbons show developed and uniform porous structure with mean size in the micropore range (1.1 nm) for zeolite derived carbon and in the mesopore range (3.4 and 4.8 nm) for silica gel derived carbons. The BET surface area of silica gel derived carbons is in the range 1230-1280 m²/g whereas zeolite derived carbon possesses very high BET surface area, 3000 m²/g. Potentiometric titration showed that carbons obtained by the template method contain significant amount of acid surface groups (carboxylic, lactone/enol and phenolic) with the total amount 1.1-1.5 mmol/g. To study adsorption-desorption properties of nanostructured carbons towards phenol and chlorophenols the solid phase extraction method was used. High recoveries of chlorophenols were obtained (80-93%) at the breakthrough volumes 1700-3000 mL. The recoveries are much higher than that obtained with commercially available carbon ACC (Supelco).     

Characterization of synthetic carbons activated with phosphoric acid

The structural heterogeneity of synthetic phosphoric acid activated carbons has been analyzed using pore-size distributions (PSDs) obtained from nitrogen at −196 °C and carbon dioxide at 0 °C isotherms. PSDs where obtained by the BET–Kelvin method. It is shown that the BET–Kelvin method is in good agreement with DFT and provides a fast means for assessment of the porous structure of adsorbents. PSDs obtained by the BET–Kelvin method using different adsorbates give results consistent with each other. Due to the restricted pressure range for carbon dioxide adsorption isotherm the PSD gives information only about pores in the micropore range. The agreement between different methods is better for small micropores.