Synthesis of Patchouli Biomass Based Carbon Nanomaterial Using Two Different Double Pyrolysis Methods

Abstract

Carbon nanomaterial (CNM) is a potential material for many applications such as adsorbent, catalyst, additive of ceramic, electode, etc due to its characteristics. However different pyrolysis methods can affect its properties which affect its performance in application. Therefore purpose of this research is to study influence of the different double pyrolysis methods (reflux - microwave and hydrothermal - microwave) toward properties of the CNM. Patchouli biomass and ZnCl2 was used as the carbon precursor and chemical activator, respectively. The pyrolysis by reflux or hydrothermal method was conducted at 200oC for 6 h, then, each was continued in microwave at 800W for 40 minutes. The products were characterized with FTIR spectrometry, XRD, UV-Vis spectrophotometry, dispersion stability test to achieve main colloidal sol (1-100 nm), and SEM. Results of the research show that the hydrothermal - microwave method produced darker product, higher crystalinity index of cellulose, higher aromaticity, smaller irreguar shape carbon particles (based on SEM), lower content of C-O functional group (based on FTIR spectra), more peaks of UV-Vis spectra, more stable CNM colloid with main content of the colloidal sol (more transparant qualitatively; higher TDS quatitatively) after keeping for 26.75 h, than the reflux - microwave one. However, degree of graphitizations of the carbons which were achieved by both methos were similar.