Premium
Chemical and Structural Properties of Carbonaceous Products Obtained by Hydrothermal Carbonization of Saccharides
Author(s) -
Sevilla Marta,
Fuertes Antonio B.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
chemistry – a european journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.687
H-Index - 242
eISSN - 1521-3765
pISSN - 0947-6539
DOI - 10.1002/chem.200802097
Subject(s) - hydrothermal carbonization , carbonization , hydrothermal circulation , carbon fibers , chemical engineering , chemistry , aqueous solution , polymerization , dehydration , organic chemistry , micrometer , materials science , polymer , composite material , biochemistry , adsorption , composite number , engineering , physics , optics
Carbon‐rich‐quick scheme : A carbon‐rich solid product made up of uniform micrometer‐sized spheres of tunable diameter has been synthesized by the hydrothermal carbonization of saccharides. These microspheres possess a core–shell chemical structure based on the different nature of the oxygen functionalities between the core and the outer layer (see figure).A carbon‐rich solid product, here denoted as hydrochar, has been synthesized by the hydrothermal carbonization of three different saccharides (glucose, sucrose, and starch) at temperatures ranging from 170 to 240 °C. This material is made up of uniform spherical micrometer‐sized particles that have a diameter in the 0.4–6 μm range, which can be modulated by modifying the synthesis conditions (i.e., the concentration of the aqueous saccharide solution, the temperature of the hydrothermal treatment, the reaction time, and type of saccharide). The formation of the carbon‐rich solid through the hydrothermal carbonization of saccharides is the consequence of dehydration, condensation, or polymerization and aromatization reactions. The microspheres thus obtained possess, from a chemical point of view, a core–shell structure consisting of a highly aromatic nucleus (hydrophobic) and a hydrophilic shell containing a high concentration of reactive oxygen functional groups (i.e., hydroxyl/phenolic, carbonyl, or carboxylic).