Pyrocarbons prepared by carbonisation of polymers adsorbed or synthesised on a surface of silica and mixed oxides

Initial oxides fumed silica, alumina/silica and titania/silica and silica gel and hybrid adsorbentswith pyrocarbon formed on these oxide substrates by carbonisation of immobilised (adsorbed or synthesised) polymers such as starch, methyl cellulose, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polystyrene, and polybutylvinyl ether were studied by adsorption, AFM, TEM, and FTIR methods. Polymer/oxidematerials were investigated by nitrogen and Pb(II) adsorption, FTIR, and potentiometric titrationmethods. Analysis of nitrogen adsorption–desorption isotherms by different methods, FTIR spectra, AFM and TEM images of the initial and hybrid adsorbents reveals that the morphology of the substrates significantly changes on carbonisation of oxygen-containing polymers because of hydrothermal treatment of them by water eliminated as a product of pyrolysis. Contribution of own microporosity of pyrocarbon deposits formed on carbonisation of immobilised polymers is greater (dependent on reaction conditions) than that on pyrolysis of low-molecular compounds at the same oxide substrates. Pyrocarbon particles formed on silica gel are larger than those formed on fumed oxides and larger than those formed on silica gel on pyrolysis of low-molecular compounds. # 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved