REGULAR PAPERS
Characterization Of Shungite By Physical Adsorption Of Gases
Cascarini de Torre, L.E.1; Fertitta, A.E.1 ; Flores, E.S.1 ; Llanos, J.L.1 ; Bottani, E.J. 1
1Instituto
de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicadas INIFTA
(UNLP-CICPBA-CONICET) C.C. 16, Suc. 4, 1900 La Plata, Argentina
Fax: +54 221 425 4642, E-mail: ltorre@inifta.unlp.edu.ar
Received December 10, 2003. In final form August 18, 2004
Abstract
Shungite is a natural carbonaceous
mineral, abundant in Russia. Their properties are currently under study and
their applications are continuously growing. In this work the surface
properties for a sample of shungite were characterized using physical
adsorption of N2, Ar, O2 and CO2. Pore size
distribution and pore volume were calculated. Real and apparent densities were
determined and the adsorption energy distribution was calculated for N2,
Ar and CO2. The sample of shungite shows a mesoporous surface with a
narrow size pore distribution. Their specific surface is relatively low and
the surface seems to be rather homogeneous.
Resumen
Shungita es un mineral natural carbonoso que se
encuentra en yacimientos en Rusia. Sus propiedades y aplicaciones se encuentran
actualmente en pleno desarrollo. En este trabajo se presentan resultados,
obtenidos a partir del estudio de la adsorción comparada de N2, Ar,
O2 y CO2, que contribuyen a la caracterización del
mineral. Se informa la distribución de tamaños de poro, el volumen total de
poro, la densidad real y aparente y la distribución de energías de adsorción.
La muestra ha resultado mesoporosa, con una distribución de radios de poro
bastante estrecha y presenta una superficie específica relativamente baja. A
pesar de su composición y los tratamientos a los que ha sido sometida, la
superficie aparece como bastante homogénea desde el punto de vista energético.
Introduction
Shungite (schungite) is elementary carbon with amorphous structure,
although X-Rays studies show the existence of fragments with graphitic
structures with an interlayer distance of 3.4 and 3.5 Å. Recently it has been
stated that the mineral has important amounts of fullerenes, mainly C60
[1].
Shungite rocks have a peculiar structure. They are characterized by
highly dispersed silicate mineral grains evenly distributed in the shungite
carbon matrix. It determines their numerous practical applications. Shungite
rocks have high electric conductivity and considerable mechanical strength.
Shungite possesses an extra-molecule
structure detectable by electron microscopy. Round or elongated globules of a
fraction of an angstrom in size are the elements of the extra-molecule
structure. The globules in shungite are mutually oriented. Probably this
explains the anisotropy of physical properties of shungite [1].
The real density of shungite carbon can vary from 1.9 to 2.1 g/cm3
and depends on its structure and the conditions of its formation. Shungite
is characterized by a high elasticity. The ratio of compression strength to
dynamic modulus of elasticity for shungite is the highest among carbon materials,
including graphite and glassy carbon. With respect to its reactivity with
oxygen, shungite is more active than coke. At the same time, shungite is more
resistant to oxidation, in oxygen-free aggressive media, than even graphite.
The surface of shungite carbon is partially oxidized. This can be
attributed to its peculiar physical and physico-chemical properties. The shungite
surface is more water-receptive than graphite. Water infusion of shungite has
an acid reaction (pH = 4).
Shungite possesses properties adsorption, catalytic and bactericidal
which depend on the specific area of the carbon. Shungite rocks are
characterized by a wide range of carbon content and by the diversity in the
composition of the silica component [1, 2].
The mineral has low specific surface area (6 to 11 m2/g), when it is treated with alkali in an autoclave the specific surface area could
be raised to about 26 m2/g.
Some of their applications can be summarized as follows:
Shungite can replace coke, graphite, carbon black or glassy carbon,
it can serve as a complex raw material in thermal processes, it can be used to
replace graphite in mold paints, it mix well with all known binders, it can
screen high frequency electromagnetic emissions when included in construction
materials, it can be used to produce fire-safe ecologically clean heating
units, it can play a valuable role in the production of rubber and plastics, it
is useful in the treatment of skin aliments and besides, it has proven to be
quite effective in water treatment processes.
The sample of shungite was provided by the Wynterwade Company. It is
a mineral from Zazhoginskoye (Russia) and according to specifications by the
provider has the following composition: 30% C, 40% quartz and 25% of silicates [1].
This
work shows the results obtained in the characterization of a shungite sample
using N2, Ar, O2 and CO2 adsorption.
The specific surface area, pore size distribution and adsorption
energies distribution are reported. For comparison, N2 and Ar
adsorption energies distribution were calculated employing two different
methods.
Experimental
N2, O2 and Ar adsorption isotherm were
obtained at 80.2 K (liquid air temperature) and CO2 isotherm at
273.2 K. Data were obtained employing conventional adsorption volumetry. Pressure
measurements were determined by using an absolute capacitance manometer and
temperature was measured with a digital thermometer with a Pt-100 (DIN) sensor
head previously calibrated against an oxygen vapor pressure thermometer. The
maximum experimental error, determined according to standard methods, was 0.3%
in the adsorbed volume; more details concerning the experimental technique have
been published elsewhere [3,4].
The adsorbed volume was calculate assuming ideal behavior of all
gases in the experimental conditions. All gases were of high purity and the
corresponding liquids have been distilled under vacuum before use to ensure a
maximum degree of purity [5].
The adsorption – desorption isotherms are shown in figures 1 to 4.
The specific surface area of the shungite sample is 25.09 m2g-1.
It was calculated using the BET method from N2 isotherms, assuming a
value of 0.162 nm2 for nitrogen cross-sectional area and using the
standard range of relative pressures [6]. Similar calculations have been performed
using Ar, O2 and CO2 adsorption isotherms. Results are
summarized in Table 1.
Figure 1: Argon adsorption and desorption isotherms
Figure 2: Nitrogen adsorption and desorption isotherms
Figure 3: Oxygen adsorption and desorption isotherms
Figure 4: Carbon dioxide adsorption and desorption isotherms
Table 1 Surface area calculated from experimental isotherms
Gas |
N2 |
O2 |
Ar |
CO2 |
Cross Sectional Area (nm2) |
0.162 |
0.135 |
0.136 |
0.164 |
S BET (m2/g) |
25.09 |
25.68 |
24.84 |
22.54 |
The real and apparent densities were determined using Helium gas volumetry and CCl4 picnometry respectively.
Results and Discussion
The distribution function of adsorption energies has been calculated solving the general adsorption equation:
where Vad
(p) is the volume of gas adsorbed at equilibrium pressure p, Vm
is the monolayer volume, q l (p,U) is a local isotherm and f(U)
is the distribution function of adsorption energies. this equation is a Fredholm 1st kind integral
equation that cannot be analytically solved for these systems. In order to
calculate f(U), numerical methods are needed [7, 8, 9].
The choice of the local isoterm θl
(p,U),
the distribution function f(U) and the integral resolution by the least
square method has been widely described in previous papers [8, 9]. For N2
and Ar this integral has been solved also using the CONTIN method [10].
Both Ar and N2 distribution functions of adsorption
energies suggest a relatively homogeneous surface with maxima at very similar
potentials, while CO2 distribution shows two different adsorption
sites and a less homogeneous surface (figures 5 - 7).
The N2 distribution function obtained using CONTIN
method is rather similar to those obtained by the least square method even when
the maximum lies at potentials somewhat lower. However for the Ar distribution
function the difference between both methods is very important, showing the
CONTIN method a very broad distribution.
The pore size distribution, was calculated
using the Kelvin equation for cylindrical pores, assuming a contact angle of
zero. The results for N2, Ar and O2 are shown in figure
8.
The
pore size distributions for Ar and O2 show a maximum for a radii of
about 17 Å, that corresponds to a mesoporous surface according to the Brunauer
classification, and a narrow distribution. For N2 the distribution
is less defined. This can be due to the form of the lower end of the hysteresis
loop (figure 2).
The absence of pores with radii between 3 and 4 Å confirm
that the graphitic fraction of the surface is rather low.
The total pore volume was determined from N2 adsorption –
desorption isotherms following the usual method described in Gregg y Sing
[11]. A value of 0.019 ml g -1 was obtained, in good agreement with
the one obtained from real density (1.995 ml g –1) and apparent
density (1.925 ml g –1).
Figure 5: Argon adsorption energy distribution function (Using a Double Gaussian model)
Figure 6: Nitrogen adsorption energy distribution function (Using a Double Gaussian model)
Figure 7: Carbon dioxide adsorption energy distribution function (Using a Gaussian model)
The total pore volume was not determined for the others gases because the calculation implies to correct the Kelvin pore radius by the thickness of the layer of gas adsorbed over the pore wall (thickness t) [12] and the t values obtained for these gases show an important dispersion.
Conclusions
The shungite studied is a mesoporous material with a narrow porous
radii distribution and a small porous volume. The specific surface area is
relatively low. Notwithstanding its origin and treatment, the gas–solid
potential distribution suggests a rather homogeneous surface.
The lack of concordance between the least
square and CONTIN distributions for Ar is still under study. The use of the
CONTIN method must be carefully evaluated.
Bibliography
[1] Supplier information (Wynterwade Company).
[2] Kovalevski, V.V.; Buseck, P.R.; Cowley, J.M. Carbon, 2001, 39, 243.
[3] Bottani, E.J.; Llanos, J.L. ;Cascarini de Torre, L.E. Carbon, 1989, 27, 531.
[4] Cascarini de Torre, L.E.; Bottani, E.J. Langmuir, 1995, 11, 221.
[5] Cascarini de Torre, L.E.; Flores, E.S.; Llanos, J.L.; Bottani, E.J., Langmuir, 1995, 11, 4742.
[6] Surface Area Determination, IUPAC, Proceedings of the International Symposium on Surface Area Determination, Bristol, UK, 1969.
[7] Ross, S.; Olivier, J.P., On Physical Adsorption, Interscience Publishers, 1964.
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[12] de Boer, J.H.; Lippens, B.G.; et al., J. Colloid and Interface Science, 1980, 21, 405.