On the Low-Pressure Hysteresis (LPH) in Gas Sorption Isotherms of Porous Carbons

This study investigates the origin of low-pressure hysteresis (LPH) in the adsorption and desorption of three different probe molecules: carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and argon, across various adsorption temperatures (from cryogenic to room temperature), and within five different carbon materials: synthetic carbons (pristine and one post-synthetically oxidized) and natural coal. Significant attention is dedicated to elucidating LPH in oxidized samples outgassed at various temperatures (120-350 °C). Experimental results show that insufficient outgassing temperature can lead to unreliable data due to artificial LPH and significantly underestimated textural properties, primarily caused by porosity blockage from substances like moisture. Conversely, in samples where heteroatoms have a stabilizing effect on texture, such as natural coal, careful consideration of outgassing temperature is crucial due to the risk of thermal degradation. Other factors contributing to LPH are adsorption temperature, and especially, kinetic limitations at cryogenic temperatures for cellulose-based carbons. Minor factors responsible for LPH are the physical state of the sample (monolith vs powder) and the flexibility of the porous system, both studied by carbon dioxide sorption. This study constitutes an important piece in the evaluation of LPH, providing practical recommendations and underlining the importance of experimental design, with implications for further research in this complex field.

Carbonaceous Materials Porosity Investigation in a Wet State by Low-Field NMR Relaxometry

The porosity of differently wetted carbonaceous material with disordered mesoporosity was investigated using low-field 1H NMR relaxometry. Spin−spin relaxation (relaxation time T2) was measured using the CPMG pulse sequence. We present a non-linear optimization method for the conversion of relaxation curves to the distribution of relaxation times by using non-specialized software. Our procedure consists of searching for the number of components, relaxation times, and their amplitudes, related to different types of hydrogen nuclei in the sample wetted with different amounts of water (different water-to-carbon ratio). We found that a maximum of five components with different relaxation times was sufficient to describe the observed relaxation. The individual components were attributed to a tightly bounded surface water layer (T2 up to 2 ms), water in small pores especially supermicropores (2 < T2 < 7 ms), mesopores (7 < T2 < 20 ms), water in large cavities between particles (20−1500 ms), and bulk water surrounding the materials (T2 > 1500 ms). To recalculate the distribution of relaxation times to the pore size distribution, we calculated the surface relaxivity based on the results provided by additional characterization techniques, such as thermoporometry (TPM) and N2/−196 °C physisorption.

Liquefaction of Cellulose for Production of Advanced Porous Carbon Materials

Cellulose is a renewable resource for the production of advanced carbonaceous materials for various applications. In addition to direct carbonization, attention has recently been paid to the preparation of porous carbons from liquid cellulose-based precursors. Possible pathways of cellulose conversion to a liquid state suitable for the preparation of porous carbons are summarized in this review. Hydrothermal liquefaction leading to liquid mixtures of low-molecular-weight organics is described in detail together with less common decomposition techniques (microwave or ultrasound assisted liquefaction, decomposition in a strong gravitation field). We also focus on dissolution of cellulose without decomposition, with special attention paid to dissolution of nonderivatized cellulose. For this purpose, cold alkalines, hot acids, ionic liquids, or alcohols are commonly used.

Synthesis of Magnetic Adsorbents Based Carbon Highly Efficient and Stable for Use in the Removal of Pb(II) and Cd(II) in Aqueous Solution

In this study, two alternative synthesis routes for magnetic adsorbents were evaluated to remove Pb(II) and Cd(II) in an aqueous solution. First, activated carbon was prepared from argan shells (C). One portion was doped with magnetite (Fe₃O₄+C) and the other with cobalt ferrite (CoFe₂O₄+C). Characterization studies showed that C has a high surface area (1635 m² g⁻¹) due to the development of microporosity. For Fe₃O₄+C the magnetic particles were nano-sized and penetrated the material’s texture, saturating the micropores. In contrast, CoFe₂O₄+C conserves the mesoporosity developed because most of the cobalt ferrite particles adhered to the exposed surface of the material. The adsorption capacity for Pb(II) was 389 mg g⁻¹ (1.88 mmol g⁻¹) and 249 mg g⁻¹ (1.20 mmol g⁻¹); while for Cd(II) was 269 mg g⁻¹ (2.39 mmol g⁻¹) and 264 mg g⁻¹ (2.35 mmol g⁻¹) for the Fe₃O₄+C and CoFe₂O₄+C, respectively. The predominant adsorption mechanism is the interaction between -FeOH groups with the cations in the solution, which are the main reason these adsorption capacities remain high in repeated adsorption cycles after regeneration with HNO₃. The results obtained are superior to studies previously reported in the literature, making these new materials a promising alternative for large-scale wastewater treatment processes using batch-type reactors.

The role of the oxygen functional groups in adsorption of copper (II) on carbon surface

The effect of carbon surface oxidation on the adsorption of Cu(II) ions from aqueous solution was studied in order to explain the role of the oxygen functional groups in the binding of copper ions. Pristine carbonaceous adsorbent was oxidized to a various extent of oxygen uptake (Fenton-like oxidation < persulphate in H₂SO₄ < H₂O₂ in HNO₃). Equilibrium adsorption tests were performed in acetate buffer at pH ≈ 5. The results show that the adsorption capacity of pristine adsorbent is expectable low (~0.1 mmol g^-1). The oxidized samples adsorb Cu(II) at a considerably higher level of ~1.4 mmol g^-1 despite the degree of surface oxidation. Analysis of the surface groups (FTIR, TPD) and surface charge (zeta potential) of used adsorbents and their Cu(II) saturated counterpart lead to the finding that Cu(II) ions are mostly bonded by complexation with the dissociated carboxylic groups (partly formed by anhydrides hydrolysis) probably in the form of Cu(Ac)⁺ formed in the acetate buffer. The extent of dissociation is given by equilibrium pH during the adsorption and does not depend on the total amount of the surface groups. Thus, the content of active sites and consequently adsorption capacity is independent on the degree of oxidation when pH is kept constant. The results indicate that even moderate oxidation treatment of carbonaceous materials can produce highly effective adsorbents for Cu(II) immobilization.

Highly-efficient removal of Pb(ii), Cu(ii) and Cd(ii) from water by novel lithium, sodium and potassium titanate reusable microrods

This work provides a very efficient, fast and convenient approach for exploring promising materials for water treatment.

Waste poly (vinyl chloride) pyrolysis with hydrogen chloride abatement by steelmaking dust

Experimental study on PVC-based materials (PVC = poly (vinyl chloride)) pyrolysis; in the presence of various amounts of steelmaking dust was performed. Dust from steel manufacture employing zinc plated scrap contains a considerable amount of zinc oxide (ZnO) and its utilization in metallurgy is quite complicated. However, the dust can react with hydrogen chloride (HCl) released from heated PVC in the temperature range of 200–400°C. Material balance of the pyrolysis process was studied by thermogravimetry, and the data obtained were compared with the results of larger laboratory oven experiments. In excess of PVC, the amount of captured HCl stoichiometrically corresponds to the content of ZnO; additional HCl is probably captured by FeCl