"Nanocomposites and nanomaterials"

The effect of surface chemical modification on the properties of synthetic active carbons 
Zięzio M.1, Charmas B.1, Kucio K.1
1 Department of Chromatographic Methods, Faculty of Chemistry, Maria Curie -Sklodowska University. Maria Curie-Sklodowska Sq. 3, 20-031 Lublin, Poland. 
E-mail:madziula32.22@gmail.com

Activated carbon is a porous material characterized by a very well developed surface, owing to which it is used in separation, adsorption and purification processes. Particularly noteworthy are synthetic carbon materials due to their unique features, such as high thermal stability in an inert gas atmosphere, high purity, chemical inertness and the ability to regulate the porosity, structure and character of the chemical surface [1]. Many materials are used for the production of activated carbon (e.g. organic wastes, plastics, tyres and many others). One of the initial materials are also ion exchange resins which are characterized by a homogeneous structure and a spherical shape and can be maintained in the process of carbonization and activation.
In the studies, synthetic activated carbons were obtained in the process of carbonization and activation of the crosslinked styrene/divinylbenzene ion exchange resin (Amberlyst 15WET) in the CO2 atmosphere as an activating agent. The pyrolysis process was conducted at the CO2 flow with the rate of 100 ml/min. After the pyrolysis process, the carbon surfaces were modified with HNO3 solutions (6 – 36%). In order to investigate the porosity of adsorbents and the behaviour of liquid media with different chemical properties (water, n-decane and 1-decanol) contained within the pores of the studied synthetic activated carbons, the low-temperature adsorption / desorption of nitrogen and DSC were applied.
As a result of the pyrolysis process, carbon materials with a well-developed porous structure were obtained. It has been shown that the modification of carbon surfaces with nitric acid (V) with the increasing concentration leads to reduction of the specific surface area and limitation of their porosity.

1.	Skubiszewska-Zięba J., Charmas B., Leboda R., Gunk’ko V. M. Carbon-mineral adsorbents with a diatomaceous earth/perlite matrix modified by carbon deposits // Microporous Mesoporous Mater.-2012.-156.-P. 209-216.