Characterization of the pine biomass derived tannin–furfuryl carbon xerogels

Abstract

A suitable and relatively low-cost route for synthesizing pine polyphenol-based carbon xerogels is reported. It is proposed to produce porous carbon xerogels by carbonization of organic xerogels synthesized primarily by polycondensation of pine-derived polyphenols (tannins and organosolv ethanol lignin) with furfuryl alcohol. The effect of the tannin:furfuryl alcohol weight ratio on the structural porosity, apparent density, and adsorption capacity of the carbon gels has been established. The carbon gel obtained at a tannin/furfuryl alcohol ratio of 1:1.5 is shown to have the largest BET surface area (585 m2/g) and pore volume (0.7 cm3/g). It has been found that this sample is capable of adsorbing up to 0.83 g/g of benzene vapour at a temperature of 25 °C. Using scanning electron microscopy, it has been established that the addition of lignin into the tannin/furfuryl organic xerogel increases the size of particles forming the carbon gel matrix and the pore size.