Comparison between carbonization of wood charcoal with Al-triisopropoxide and alumina

A comparison was made between the catalytic carbonization of biomass carbon suspended in Al-triisopropoxide and in biomass carbon mixed with 40 μm sized Al2O3 particles. Both types of samples were plasma sintered during 5 min under an argon pressure of 50 MPa at temperatures up to 2200 °C. Plate-like catalytic graphitization develops by formation and dissociation of plate-like Al4C3. Plasma sintering under the proper CO partial pressure and heat treatment temperature is instrumental in forcing the Al2O3 to react with the carbon, forming first Al4C3 and subsequently graphite. The difference between Al-triisopropoxide and Al2O3 is a matter of intensity of the graphite reaction versus the size of the graphite patches.