Preparation of MgO-templated carbons from waste polymeric fibres

Mesoporous carbons with a high surface area were produced using reinforcing fibres from scrap tyres, polyester Dacron®, polyamide Nylon6 and a bituminous waste as carbon precursor by two different procedures: physical activation and MgO-template synthesis. Moreover, MgO-template synthesis was carried out by means of two different mixing methods: powder- and solution-mixing procedures. The maximum surface area, highest pore volume and mesopore ratio were obtained for MgO-templated carbons. Nanocarbons with narrow pore size distributions showing maxima at 4.5–5 nm in the case of powder-mixed MgO templated carbons and at 7 nm for solution-mixed MgO templated carbons were obtained. The mesopore size of the carbon-coated materials was in agreement with their crystallite size as determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The surface chemistry of the materials was also studied by thermal programmed desorption (TPD), infrared spectroscopy and by determining the pHPZC. The MgO-templated carbons had acid surface groups, whereas activated carbons had basic surface groups. The adsorption of a reactive dye by two nanocarbons prepared by two different mixing procedures was tested.