The direct carbonization of algae biomass to hierarchical porous carbons and CO2 adsorption properties

Algae biomass are fantastic precursors in fabricating porous carbon due to their natural composition. Herein, Enteromorpha prolifera, one of algae pollutants overrunning in China Sea, were converted into carbons with evident hierarchical micro-mesoporous structure through a simple direct pyrolysis of freeze-drying treated algae. Physical properties were studied by the XRD, Raman spectra, and N2 sorption isotherms. The formation process for hierarchical pores was preliminary discussed. Surface areas of the obtained carbons are only close to 450 m2/g with 70% areas inherited from mesopores, resulting in high-density materials with the major pore sizes at around 1.5 and 5.0 nm. Moreover, the carbon shows CO2 uptake of 6.48 mmol/g at 20 bar and 25 °C.