Agricultural waste materials (strawberry seeds and pistachio shells) were used for preparation of activated carbons by two various methods. Chemical activation using acetic acid and physical activation with gaseous agents (carbon dioxide and water vapor) were chosen as mild and environmentally friendly methods. The effect of type of raw material, temperature, and activation agent on the porous structure characteristics of the materials was discussed applying various methods of analysis. The best obtained activated carbons were characterized by high values of specific surface area (555–685 m2/g). The Guinier analysis of small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) curves showed that a time of activation affects pore size. The samples activated using carbon dioxide were characterized mostly by the spherical morphology of pores. Adsorbents were utilized for removal of the model organic pollutants from the single- and multicomponent systems. The adsorption capacities for the 4-chloro-2-methyphenoxyacetic acid (MCPA) removal were equal to 1.43–1.56 mmol/g; however, for adsorbent from strawberry seeds it was much lower. Slight effect of crystal violet presence on the MCPA adsorption and inversely was noticed as a result of adsorption in different types of pores. For similar herbicides strong competition in capacity and adsorption rate was observed. For analysis of kinetic data various equations were used.
New hybrid composite materials were prepared by polymerization of resorcinolformaldehyde resins in the presence of bentonite with various contents of polymer and water, and then exposed to pyrolysis in an inert atmosphere at 800 • C. The influence of the filler and synthesis method on the morphological, textural and structural characteristics has been described. The materials were characterized using low temperature nitrogen adsorption-desorption, small angle X-ray scattering, scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and thermogravimetry analysis (TGA). The maximal values of the specific surface area of organo-bentonite and carbonized samples were 254 and 200 m 2 /g, respectively, which is much larger than that of the initial bentonite. The TGA and DSC experiments showed changes in the thermal stability of samples depending on their composition. The obtained data could provide a better understanding of the principles of preparing hybrid bentonite-containing composites that may provide an additional incentive to develop advanced technologies.
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