SIEVING PROPERTIES OF CARBONS OBTAINED BY TEMPLATE CARBONIZATION OF POLYFURFURYL ALCOHOL WITHIN MINERAL MATRICES

Carbons obtained by carbonization of polyfurfuryl alcohol within the s mectite and taeniolite matrices were studied by sorption methods. The sorption of nitrogen at 77 K showed only small differences in the pore structure of these materials related to the properties of the inorgan ic matrix. More specific information about pore structure was obtained from inverse gas chromatography, where molecules of different sizes w ere used to study sieving properties. Micropore structure was also stu died by sorption of methane, carbon tetrafluoride, and sulfur hexafluo ride at supercritical temperatures; at these temperatures they are ads orbed mainly in small pores. Thermodynamic quantities, such as adsorpt ion energy distribution, micropore size distribution, and isosteric he at of adsorption, were calculated assuming the energy distribution is governed by pore size distribution due to adsorption potential enhance ment in small pores. The results: obtained demonstrate the presence of sieving effects for molecular sizes between 3.6 and 6 Angstrom.