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Green synthesis of nanostructured SiCs by using natural biopolymers (guar, tragacanth, Arabic, and xanthan gums) for oxidative desulfurization of model fuel

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Abstract

Mesoporous SiC ceramics were prepared using different natural biopolymers (guar, tragacanth, Arabic, and xanthan gum) as both template and carbon sources. Natural biopolymers are safe, biocompatible, and inexpensive materials that can be green candidates for carbon sources. Low-temperature magnesiothermic technique was used to form porous silicon carbide. In this study, tetraethylorthosilicate was prepared by sol–gel method and used as silica precursor. The mixture of silica and carbon sources was carbonized under argon atmosphere at 750 °C, and then, the reaction continued by adding magnesium powder at 700 °C. Products were characterized using SEM, BET/BJH, XRD, FTIR, and Raman spectroscopy. The produced SiC materials showed mesoporous structures with high surface area and identical structures related to their carbon precursors. The results suggest that the natural gums can be potentially used as carbon templates in controlled formation of nanostructures. Also the synthesized silicon carbide nanostructures were used as catalyst supports in oxidative desulfurization of a model fuel. For this purpose, MoO3 was immobilized on the surface of SiC supports by using peroxo molybdenum complex. Such excellent catalytic performance was attributed in the presence of silicon carbide (99, 98, 94, and 93% conversion for SiCs produced from Arabic, xanthan, guar, and tragacanth, respectively).

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Acknowledgements

Support for this investigation by Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Research Center of Iran is gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Inorganic Department, Chemistry & Chemical Engineering Research Center of Iran, Tehran, 14335-186, Iran

    E. Khomand & M. Afsharpour

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  1. E. Khomand
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  2. M. Afsharpour
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Correspondence to M. Afsharpour.

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Responsibility editor: M. Abbaspour

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Khomand, E., Afsharpour, M. Green synthesis of nanostructured SiCs by using natural biopolymers (guar, tragacanth, Arabic, and xanthan gums) for oxidative desulfurization of model fuel. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 16, 2359–2372 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-018-1678-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-018-1678-y

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