Carbonisation of resorcinol–formaldehyde organic xerogels

What is it about?

Resorcinol–formaldehyde organic xerogels with an initial pH of 6.5 were synthesized in a microwave oven and then carbonised in a furnace. The influence of the carbonisation temperature, heating rate and the particle size of the organic xerogels upon the pore structure of the carbon xerogels was assessed.

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Why is it important?

In this paper, we show that the heating rate at which the particles of organic xerogels are heated to the desired carbonisation temperature, in the interval studied, does not have any a significant influence on the BET specific surface area, pore structure or carbon xerogel yield. The use of higher heating rates (i.e. 50 ºC min−1) during the carbonisation of organic xerogels allows the desired carbonisation temperatura to be reached in a much shorter time (almost 90% less) than by the conventional method (i.e. heating rates of 5 ºC min−1) with a considerable saving of energy and costs. This saving of time makes the production method of carbon xerogels much more competitive. However, for its implementation on an industrial scale a fast or flash pyrolysis process needs to be devised. In order to obtain carbon xerogels more quickly and with high specific surface areas upon pyrolysis the following conditions must be applied: an organic xerogel particle size lower than 212 micron, a heating rate of 50 ºC min−1 and a carbonisation temperature of 700 ºC.

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