Effect of carbon nanofiber functionalization on the adsorption properties of volatile organic compounds

• Published in: Journal of Chromatography A Vol. 1188; no. 2; pp. 264 - 273
• Main Authors: Cuervo, Montserrat R., Asedegbega-Nieto, Esther, Díaz, Eva, Vega, Aurelio, Ordóñez, Salvador, Castillejos-López, Eva, Rodríguez-Ramos, Inmaculada
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 25.04.2008; Amsterdam; New York: Elsevier; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adsorption; Analytical chemistry; Carbon - chemistry; Carbon nanofibers; Chemistry; Chromatographic methods and physical methods associated with chromatography; Chromatography, Gas; Exact sciences and technology; Functionalization; Gas chromatographic methods; General and physical chemistry; Inverse gas chromatography; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Nanostructures - chemistry; Nitric Acid - chemistry; Organic Chemicals - analysis; Organic Chemicals - chemistry; Oxidation-Reduction; Solid-gas interface; Surface physical chemistry; Temperature; Thermodynamics; Volatilization; X-Ray Diffraction; Carbon nanofibers; Inverse gas chromatography; Adsorption; Functionalization; Scanning electron microscopy; Adsorption energy; Hydrocarbon; Nanofiber; Volatile organic compound; X ray; X ray diffraction; Nitric acid; Surface treatment; Surface structure; Inorganic acids; Gas solid adsorption; Gas chromatography; Reversed flow; Chlorocarbon; Morphology; Photoelectron spectrometry; Thermodynamic properties; Carbon fiber
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2008.02.061
• ISSN: 0021-9673

The effect of the chemical activation, using HNO 3, of a commercial carbon nanofiber (CNF) on its surface chemistry and adsorption properties is studied in this work. The adsorption of different alkanes (linear and cyclic), aromatic compounds and chlorohydrocarbons on both the parent and the oxidized CNF were compared. Temperature-programmed desorption results, in agreement with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy experiments, reveal the existence of oxygen groups on the surface of the treated CNF. Capacity of adsorption was derived from the adsorption isotherms, whereas thermodynamic properties (enthalpy of adsorption, surface free energy characteristics) have been determined from chromatographic retention data. Both the capacity and the strength of adsorption decrease after the oxidant treatment of the carbon nanofibers, although in the case of chlorinated compounds the specific component of the surface energy shows an important increase. For n-alkanes and cyclic compounds, it was demonstrated that the presence of oxygen surface groups does not affect their interaction, the morphology of the surface being the key parameter. The oxidation of the nanofiber leads to steric limitations of the adsorption. In the adsorption of aromatic compounds, these limitations are compensated by the nucleophilic interactions between the aromatic ring and surface oxygenated groups, leading to similar performances of both materials. The absence of nucleophilic groups in the chlorinated compounds hinders their adsorption on the activated nanofibers.