2023 AIChE Annual Meeting

(601h) Physical Activation of Microcrystalline Cellulose for High-Surface Area Carbon Materials

Authors

Warren, K. J., University of Colorado Boulder
Weimer, A., University Of Colorado
Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) is a promising precursor for additive manufacturing of active carbon due to its colloidal stability and ease of printing via extrusion-based methods. Carbonization of MCC prints can yield high-surface area carbon materials in complex shapes, offering a novel route to low cost, rapid manufacturing of detailed adsorbent structures with applications as filters, CO2 capture, and reactive C templates. However, MCC carbonization is generally low yield (~10 wt%) and lengthy (~days-weeks).

In this study, we explore controlled carbonization in inert atmosphere to result in high-purity, high-surface area char from MCC in yields exceeding 20% and in less than 3 days. First, we use thermogravimetric analysis and in-line mass spectrometry (TGA-MS) to determine at what temperatures (< 300oC) is char formation favorable over tar formation. Next, we use TGA-MS and combustion analysis (for %C) to determine the effect of carbonization temperature on the time requirement for the low-temperature reaction. Then, we evaluate the efficacy of our low-temperature dwell after full carbonization (to 900oC) by characterization of the carbon content and specific surface area of the resultant char. Finally, we investigate the applicability of the carbonization schedule to a wide range of initial MCC sample size.