Influence of the method of activation on the structural and sorption properties of the products of carbonization of sucrose

The comparative research of bulk carbonization of sucrose at different temperatures (Ar, 400–900 °C) in the presence of activating agents (H3PO4 and ZnCl2) and water vapor was carried out. X-ray diffraction, nitrogen and hydrogen adsorption and IR spectroscopy were used for investigating of the structural and sorption characteristics of the obtained materials. It was shown that in conditions of non-catalytic bulk carbonization of sucrose homogeneous microporous carbons were formed; with the increasing of the temperature of carbonization micropore volume and adsorption of hydrogen (up to 1.48 wt.%, 900 °C) were increased. The essential effect of using an activating agent and/or catalytic agent on the porous structure of carbons: in the presence of phosphoric acid carbons with increased micro- and supermicropore volume were obtained. Mainly mesoporous carbons were formed in the presence of zinc chloride. It was established that thermal activation with steam at 800 and 850 °C results in the significant increase of specific surface area of the carbons (SBET – up to 2287 m2/g) and hydrogen adsorption – up to 1.88 and 1.99 wt.% accordingly.