Preparation of Controlled Porosity Resorcinol Formaldehyde Xerogels for Adsorption Applications

Eghe A. Oyedoh, Ahmad B. Albadarin, Gavin M. Walker, Mojtaba Mirzaeian, Mohammad N.M. Ahmad

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

    19 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    The synthesis of resorcinol formaldehyde xerogels was investigated by controlling its porosity for potential use as adsorbents for heavy metals removal from industrial wastewater. Resorcinol formaldehyde carbon xerogels were synthesised by sol-gel polymerization of resorcinol (R) with formaldehyde (F) in the presence of sodium carbonate (C) and then vacuum dried. Resorcinol formaldehyde (RF) gels were synthesised at same temperature conditions with varying resorcinol / catalyst (R/C) and resorcinol / water (R/W) ratios. The influence of R/C and R/W ratios on the pore structure of the xerogels was investigated. Surface area and porosity of the resorcinol formaldehyde gels were analysed by physical adsorption (physiosorption) of nitrogen (N2) at 77 K. The result(s) showed an increase in mesoporosity and pore size as R/C ratio increases. At resorcinol / catalyst (R/C) of 200, the pore size and pore volume increased with increase in R/W ratio. From the result, it can be concluded that the resorcinol / catalyst (R/C) and resorcinol / water (R/W) ratios are two contributing factors to determining the pore structure of the xerogels.
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationChemical Engineering Transactions
    EditorsSauro Pierucc, Jiří J. Klemeš
    PublisherThe Italian Association of Chemical Engineering
    Pages1651-1656
    Volume32
    ISBN (Print)978-88-95608-23-5
    Publication statusPublished - 2013

    Publication series

    NameChemical Engineering Transactions
    PublisherThe Italian Association of Chemical Engineering (AIDIC)
    Volume32
    ISSN (Print)1974-9791

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