Carbon–silica composite adsorbent: Sensitivity to synthesis conditions

Several carbon–silica composite materials have been synthesized from MCM-41 and furfuryl alcohol and characterized via X-ray diffraction, nitrogen adsorption, and thermal gravimetric analysis. The materials are completely nanoporous, have high surface areas, and pore size distributions centered near 12 Å. In order to determine the sensitivity of the resulting carbon to synthesis conditions, materials were prepared using different furfuryl alcohol solvents and were polymerized and carbonized at either atmospheric pressure, 5 atm, or under vacuum. As a control, silica gel was impregnated with furfuryl alcohol, which was polymerized and carbonized. The surface areas of the materials are affected by both solvent selection and the pressure at which carbonization takes place. The results are consistent with work done by others, which document furfuryl alcohol spontaneously generating nanoporosity when carbonized. The high surface area and narrow pore size distribution of these materials provides evidence that carbon–silica composites may be suitable candidates for novel separations.