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Optimization of the process variables in the microwave-induced synthesis of carbon xerogels

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Abstract

Carbon xerogels (CX) can be synthesized by microwave-assisted heating. The transfer of this technology to an industrial scale passes through the optimization of the variables that affect the process. The effect of the main operational variables, i.e., initial volume of the precursor, gelation and ageing time and temperature of the synthesis, on the final porous properties of CX has been evaluated. It was found that the development of porosity in the CX synthesised in the microwave oven is hardly influenced by the increase in the initial volume of the precursor solution. This suggests that it is feasible to scale up the production of these materials by means of microwave heating. Furthermore, the consumption of energy does not increase in proportion to the volume of xerogel synthesized. Thus, the process is energy efficient, saves a considerable amount of time and requires only a single device to carry it out. These advantages, along with the fact that a temperature variation of 10 °C is not determinative in the xerogels’ final properties, indicate that CX could be produced on a large scale in a cost effective way .

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Acknowledgments

Financial support from the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad of Spain MINECO (under Projects MAT2011-23733 and IPT-2012-0689-420000) is greatly acknowledged. N.R.R. is also grateful to MINECO for her predoctoral research grant.

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  1. Instituto Nacional del Carbón, CSIC, Apartado 73, 33080, Oviedo, Spain

    Natalia Rey-Raap, J. Angel Menéndez & Ana Arenillas

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  1. Natalia Rey-Raap
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  2. J. Angel Menéndez
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  3. Ana Arenillas
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Correspondence to Ana Arenillas.

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Rey-Raap, N., Menéndez, J.A. & Arenillas, A. Optimization of the process variables in the microwave-induced synthesis of carbon xerogels. J Sol-Gel Sci Technol 69, 488–497 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-013-3248-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-013-3248-6

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