Barothermal preparation and characterization of micro-mesoporous activated carbons

In this study, natural microporous activated carbon (AC) was barothermal treated with hydrogen peroxide vapors at 553 and 623 K. Nitrogen adsorption proves the formation of micro-mesoporous ACs with S ext of 350 m2 g−1 at S BET = 1250 m2 g−1. The texture of ACs drastically depends on the oxidant concentration and temperature at the treatment. Thermal behavior of the initial and obtained ACs was examined in an argon dynamic atmosphere with thermogravimetric (TG) analysis. Thermoprogrammed desorption coupled with infrared spectroscopy (TPD-IR) and MS spectroscopy monitoring of evolved gases were used to disclose the regularities of the surface groups thermodestruction. TG-TPD-IR shows that the barothermal oxidation suppresses the rich surface chemistry of the initial AC, of 1 mmol g−1 of oxygen-containing functional groups. The oxidation causes selective functionalization of the AC surface with 2.6–4.3 mmol g−1 of non-acidic quinolic (Qu) groups. The CO/CO2 release from the barothermal treated ACs has reached the Boudouard equilibrium at temperatures above 930 K. Thermal stability of two different surface centers, single spaced and vicinal Qu groups, is assigned as a factor responsible for issues related to the thermodesorption of CO/CO2 and the passage of the reversed reaction of Boudouard–Bell.