Utilization of Carbon Derived from Thermal Conversion of Renewable Resources for Development of Nanocatalys

Animal wastes are considered as renewable energy resources which contain a great energy potential. Solid residues were mainly composed of carbon (26--29 wt%) and ash (35--45 wt%), and exhibited low surface areas (11--17 m2/g). FT-IR spectra and SEM analysis indicated an incomplete conversion of lignocellulosic components, and thermal chemical reactions, including hydrolysis, dehydration, decarboxylation, aromatization, and condensation.;Carbon spheres have attracted a great deal of attention due to their applications as super capacitors, catalyst supports, and adsorbents. Carbon spheres can be prepared with controlled size and with oxygenated functional groups on the surface by the hydrothermal carbonization. Graphite encapsulated molybdenum carbides were synthesized via the hydrothermal carbonization of a solution of glucose and ammonium molybdate followed by temperature programmed reduction. Characterization and structural analyses revealed that the synthesized Mo2C C nanoparticles had a molybdenum core/carbon shell structure with a particle size ranging from 50 nm to 100 nm and a core size range of 5--45 nm. The catalytic performance was evaluated on conversion of guaiacol to phenolic compounds in methanol. Mo2C C showed high selectivity for phenolic compounds in methanol.;A simple procedure was examined to synthesize molybdenum carbide nanoparticles by carburization of ammonium molybdate on biochar without using any gaseous carbon source or reducing gas. Molybdenum carbide nanoparticles in the range of 6--20 nm were synthesized at 800°C and Mo0 appears at 900°C. Both solid carbon and the volatile products of CO, H2, and CH4 from biochar decomposition participated in the molybdenum oxide reduction. Solid carbon and CH4 served as carbon sources for molybdenum carbide formation. The oxidation rate was faster than the reduction rate over molybdenum carbide.