The carbon deposits formed by reaction of a series of red mud samples with methanol

Gu, H., Hargreaves, J. , McFarlane, A. and MacKinnon, G. (2016) The carbon deposits formed by reaction of a series of red mud samples with methanol. RSC Advances, 6(6), pp. 46421-46426. (doi: 10.1039/C6RA06204K)

Abstract

New magnetic carbon materials were prepared by the catalytic growth of graphitic carbon and carbon nanofibers using methanol as carbon source with a series of red mud wastes from different sources. Both the raw red mud samples and products of the graphitic carbon and carbon nanofibers were characterized using powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, Brunaeur Emmett and Teller surface area analysis, thermogravimetric analysis and carbon content analysis. Hematite and goethite in high iron content red muds were reduced into magnetite in 10 minutes at 500 oC, and graphitic carbon reflections were evident in the resultant powder X-ray diffraction pattern. Thus, the samples become magnetic and change color from red to black. After six hours reaction at 500 oC, the carbon content of the composite based on a high iron content Bayer Process derived red mud reached as high as ca. 72% and its surface area increased from 17 to 312 m2/g.

• Item Type: Articles
• Keywords: Red mud, methanol, carbon deposit, iron.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Gu, Dr Hannian and MacKinnon, Dr Gillian and Hargreaves, Professor Justin and McFarlane, Dr Andrew
• Authors: Gu, H., Hargreaves, J., McFarlane, A., and MacKinnon, G.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Chemistry
• Journal Name: RSC Advances
• Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry
• ISSN: 2046-2069
• ISSN (Online): 2046-2069
• Published Online: 26 April 2016
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2016 Royal Society of Chemistry
• First Published: First published in RSC Advances 6(6):46421-46426
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher