Microwave heating as a novel route for obtaining carbon precursors from anthracene oil

Abstract

This work describes a novel route for the preparation of pitches by oxidative polymerization of an industrial anthracene oil (AO) in a microwave semi-pilot equipment consisting in a multimode applicator having a 2.45 GHz magnetron with variable microwave power. The experimental five variables of microwave heating of AO air-blowing range between 320-380 ˚C (temperature), 0.2 -3.9 ˚C min -1 (heating rate), 1.5 -5 h (soaking time), 16 -20.5 % (air/AO ratio ) and 200 -1500 g (initial weight). Their effect on the overall microwave air-blowing process is evaluated by means of a statistical analysis. A detailed characterization of the pitches has been carried out in terms of ultimate analysis, softening point, solubility parameters (toluene insolubles (TI) and quinoline insolubles (QI)) and thermogravimetric analysis. The experiments were also carried out by using conventional heating for comparative purposes. The detailed study of the electric energy consumption of the overall microwave treatment allows estimating a significant electric energy saving of about 20 % when compared to conventional heating thus representing an excellent result in the production of carbon precursors.

Preparation and Characterization of Coal Pitch-Based Needle Coke (Part II): The Effects of β Resin in Refined Coal Pitch

“…The production of coal pitch-derived needle coke involves delaying the coking of aromatic derivatives from deep-processing of coal (such as coal-liquefied pitch, coal extraction, and coal-tar pitch). A related study reports that, , the quality of needle coke can be improved by the co-carbonization of coal pitch and organic compounds. For example, Guo et al have produced needle coke with high electrochemical properties by co-carbonization of coal pitch and dioctyl phthalate, Dong et al have synthesized needle coke by co-carbonization of coal tar pitch and petroleum pitch, Qin has prepared needle coke with high electrical conductivity and low CTE by co-carbonization of coal pitch and MCMB.…”

Graphene materials from microwave-derived carbon precursors

“…Oxidative polymerization of AO was carried out in a microwave apparatus equipped with a multimode applicator and a quartz reactor with a total capacity of 2 l. A frequency of 2.45 GHz was established and the AO oxidation stage was conducted based on the air/AO mass ratio of 18.7%. Further details about the equipment and procedure can be found elsewhere [11]. AO was heated up to 360 • C at a heating rate of 2.5 • C/ min.…”

“…Graphites (GR1, GR2, GR3) were obtained from their respective cokes (CK1, CK2, CK3) with the aim of subsequently producing highadded value graphene-like materials, and therefore to explore the suitability of microwave heating as a more energy efficient method for the synthesis of carbon precursors comparing with traditional procedures [11].…”

“…Nevertheless, this energy could be provided in other ways. In this regard, it has been recently reported the successful synthesis of AO-pitches by microwave heating saving up to 20% of the required electric energy [11], which represents an excellent improvement for the production of carbon precursors.…”

Activated carbon xerogels derived from phenolic oil: Basic catalysis synthesis and electrochemical performances

“…Porous activated carbons have traditionally been prepared from carbonisation of coal or lignocellulosic precursors (wood, coconut shells, olive stones, rice husks, etc. ), frequently followed by activation of the resulting chars to further develop their porous texture [5][6][7][8]. Porous carbon gels can be synthesised by carbonisation of dried organic gels, which are in turn obtained by sol-gel polymerisation of organic monomers under acidic or basic conditions [9].…”