Nanocarbon Material from Edible Oils: Synthesis and Characterization

Abstract

Nano-sized Carbon materials are synthesized from edible oils by a simple pyrolysis route. Three different vegetable oils, coconut oil with medium chain fatty acid, Mustard oil with short chain fatty acid, and Gingelly oil with long chain fatty acid were selected as precursors. The process conditions were an open air laboratory atmosphere and no chamber or inert gas ambient was used. The prepared agglomerates were subjected for Atomic absorption analysis to investigate their chemical contents. X-ray diffraction analysis was performed to analyze the crystallinity of the samples. A Fourier transform infrared spectroscope (FTIR) was used to identify the inorganic components and surface organic functional groups of the grown material. The electrical conductivity of the sample is investigated by conventional four probe method within a temperature range of 30 to 180 Degree Celsius. SEM micrographs reveal the Carbon powder constituted very fine and quasi spherical particles which are aggregated and the size of the particle ranges from 60 nm to 90nm. Key Words: Edible oils, Tryglycerol, Carbon nano material, Pyrolysis, Carbonisation . I.