Preparação e caracterização de nanoestruturas de carbono por método hidrotérmico a partir de biomassa

Abstract

Nanostructured carbon materials production can constitute an alternative for a sustainable management of residues originated from petrochemical waste and agriculture activities, toward the development of multifunctional ―green‖ materials. The coconut processing industry generate a significant amount of waste (45% of mass). The shell, fibers and coconut coir dust have been studied extensively to produce conventional carbon materials. The goal of this work was to produce carbon-clay nanocomposites and carbon nanostructures by hydrothermal route. By using coconut fiber residue as carbonaceous precursor along with lamellar (montmorillonite and kaolinite) and fibrous clays (sepiolite and attapulgite).The obtained materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Raman and Infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetry, scanning and transmission electron microscopy and area and porosity measurements by BET. Carbon phase formation was indicated by infrared results with bands at ~ 1444 cm-1 and ~ 1512 cm-1 assigned to C=C of aromatic groups. Raman spectroscopy results showed presence of carbonaceous species by the appearance of D and G bands assigned to disordered and graphitic crystallites, respectively. The estimated particle size based on Raman bands was found between 8-33 nm. SEM results showed that the morphology of coconut coir dust was preserved and all materials showed overlapping sheets and plates formation. In transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images it was possible to observe three types of carbon nanostructures: sheets, fibers and nanoparticles. It was observed the formation of very thin amorphous sheets, as well as the presence of partially ordered graphitic domains and disperse carbon nanoparticles.