Open AccessSynthetic Carbons Derived from a Styrene—Divinylbenzene Copolymer Using Phosphoric Acid Activation
Author(s) -
Alexander M. Puziy,
O.I. Poddubnaya,
A. MartínezAlonso,
Fabián Suárez-Garcı́a,
J.M.D. Tascón
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
adsorption science and technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.682
H-Index - 36
eISSN - 2048-4038
pISSN - 0263-6174
DOI - 10.1260/0263617053737181
Subject(s) - copolymer , divinylbenzene , chemistry , styrene , adsorption , phosphoric acid , yield (engineering) , microporous material , volume (thermodynamics) , argon , porosity , activated carbon , chemical engineering , polymer chemistry , inorganic chemistry , organic chemistry , materials science , polymer , thermodynamics , composite material , physics , engineering
Activated carbons were obtained by phosphoric acid activation of a porous chloromethylated and sulphonated styrene—divinylbenzene copolymer in two different atmospheres (argon and air) at various temperatures in the range 400–1000°C. The development with activation temperature of several characteristic parameters of the resulting carbons, i.e. bulk density, yield, surface area, meso-, micro- and ultra-micropore volumes, and cation-exchange capacity, was examined. All these parameters were recalculated relative to the volume of adsorbent (to obtain their practical effectiveness) and then related to the same quantity of precursor (to yield their economic efficiency). It is concluded that the carbons obtained in an argon atmosphere exhibit some practical advantages over those obtained in air regarding cation adsorption, although those obtained in air at low temperatures may represent an interesting alternative.