Texture Properties and Kinetic Parameters Associated to Carbon Materials Obtained from Sawdust of Algarroba Wood. 1. Application in Phenol Photodetoxification

ABSTRACT

Carbon materials were obtained by pyrolysis of the sawdust of Algarroba wood under CO2 or N2 atmospheres at temperatures from 200ºC up to 900ºC. Carbon materials were characterized by surface and micropore areas, volume pore and mean pore diameter. An approach of the kinetic parameters (apparent constant-rates and activation energies) associated with the synthesis of these carbon materials is also presented. From the kinetic data of thermal degradation of Algarroba wood, three different pyrolysis zones were verified. First, an incipient carbonization between 200 up to 350ºC, second an extensive carbonization between 350 up to 600ºC, and a third step involving the pore formation at temperatures higher than 600ºC. As a target application of carbon materials, results of phenol adsorption and phenol photodegradation under UV-irradiation indicated the potential of carbon materials in presence of TiO2 for treatment of polluted waters.