The influence of preparation conditions on adsorption properties and porosity of dolomite-based sorbents

In this paper the porosity and adsorption properties of dolomitic sorbents, prepared via thermal decomposition of dolomite, are presented. Thermal decomposition of carbonates, as a result of heating, is governed by a number of factors, e.g. temperature, heating time, atmosphere over a heated sample and sample weight and each of these has its role in the creation of new solid phase. It has been experimentally stated that the heating of dolomite at 800 °C leads to the partial decomposition (magnesium carbonate dissociation) and the creation of a new solid—a mixture of calcite and magnesium oxide. The increase of heating time and a sample weight result in the decrease of new sorbents porosity. Of the sorbents prepared in various atmospheres, the most developed porous structure is achieved by the sample heated in the inert one. Adsorption properties of new sorbents have been estimated by means of gas chromatography (GC) method. Some information about the energetic heterogeneity of the examined sorbents may be obtained from the adsorption energy distribution function χ(ε).