Publications by authors named "Agustin F Perez-Cadenas"

Article Synopsis
  • Pellet-type carbon xerogel adsorbents (CXCs) were created using a sol-gel process with resorcinol, formaldehyde, and CsCO as a catalyst, aimed at removing the pollutant sulfamethoxazole (SMX) from water.
  • The different R/Cs ratios used (100, 500, 1000, 2000) produced CXCs with varying porous structures; notably, CXCs100 had the highest adsorption capacity of 87.8 mg/g, but this capacity decreased with higher R/Cs ratios due to reduced pore volume.
  • CXCs500 was identified as the most efficient adsorbent with a good balance of adsorption capacity (72.0 mg/g)
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Bio-carbon-manganese composites obtained from olive mill wastewater were successfully prepared using manganese acetate as the manganese source and olive wastewater as the carbon precursor. The samples were characterized chemically and texturally by N and CO adsorption at 77 K and 273 K, respectively, by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray diffraction. Electrochemical characterization was carried out by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and linear sweep voltammetry (LSV).

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Carbon xerogel spheres co-doped with nitrogen and eco-graphene were synthesized using a typical solvothermal method. The results indicate that the incorporation of eco-graphene enhances the electrochemical properties, such as the current density (J) and the selectivity for the four transferred electrons (n). Additionally, nitrogen doping has a significant effect on the degradation efficiency, varying with the size of the carbon xerogel spheres, which could be attributed to the type of nitrogenous group doped in the carbon material.

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Article Synopsis
  • Black titania has been explored as a photocatalyst, but this study introduces a novel titanium-carbon-phosphorous (TCPH) hybrid nanocomposite that significantly enhances photocatalytic performance.
  • The TCPH effectively degraded methyl orange (MO) dye, demonstrating superior capabilities compared to traditional titanium-cellulose-phosphorous (TCeP) and titanium-carbon-phosphorous (TCPN) composites, especially under optimal conditions.
  • Key properties, such as the presence of Ti and oxygen vacancies, increased surface area, and a unique core-shell structure, contribute to enhanced charge transport and stability over multiple cycles, making TCPH a promising candidate for industrial applications like water treatment and CO reduction.
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In this study, the effect of the cell density of monolithic catalysts was investigated and further mathematically modeled on cordierite supports used in CO methanation. Commercial cordierite monoliths with 200, 400, and 500 cpsi cell densities were coated by immersion into an ethanolic suspension of Ni/CeO active phase. SEM-EDS analysis confirmed that, owing to the low porosity of cordierite (surface area < 1 m g), the Ni/CeO diffusion into the walls was limited, especially in the case of low and intermediate cell density monoliths; thus, active phase was predominantly loaded onto the channels' external surface.

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The electro-Fenton process is based on the generation of hydroxyl radicals (OH•) from hydroxide peroxide (HO) generated in situ by an oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Catalysts based on carbon gels have aroused the interest of researchers as ORR catalysts due to their textural, chemical and even electrical properties. In this work, we synthesized metal-free electrocatalysts based on carbon gels doped with graphene oxide, which were conformed to a working electrode.

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The Electro-Fenton (EF) process has emerged as a promising technology for pollutant removal. However, the EF process requires the use of two catalysts: one acting as an electrocatalyst for the reduction of oxygen to HO and another Fenton-type catalyst for the generation of ·OH radicals from HO. Thus, the search for materials with bifunctionality for both processes is required for a practical and real application of the EF process.

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This work shows the preparation of carbon nanospheres with a high superficial nitrogen content (7 wt.%), obtained by a simple hydrothermal method, from pyrocatechol and formaldehyde, around which tungsten nanophases have been formed. One of these nanophases is tungsten carbide, whose electro-catalytic behavior in the ORR has been evaluated together with the presence of nitrogen surface groups.

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In this study, two alternative synthesis routes for magnetic adsorbents were evaluated to remove Pb(II) and Cd(II) in an aqueous solution. First, activated carbon was prepared from argan shells (). One portion was doped with magnetite () and the other with cobalt ferrite ().

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Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) have emerged as promising electrodes materials for the methanol oxidation reaction. Here, we report on the preparation of different LDHs with the hydrothermal process. The effect of the divalent cation (i.

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Introducing new inexpensive materials for supercapacitors application with high energy density and stability, is the current research challenge. In this work, Silver doped carbon xerogels have been synthesized via a simple sol-gel method. The silver doped carbon xerogels are further surface functionalized with different loadings of nickel cobaltite (1 wt.

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A series of carbon xerogels doped with cobalt, nickel, and iron have been prepared through the sol-gel method. The doped carbon xerogels were further functionalized with binary and ternary transition metal oxides containing Co, Ni, and Zn oxides by the hydrothermal method. A development in the mesopore volume is achieved for functionalized carbon xerogel doped with iron.

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Article Synopsis
  • Enhanced carbon capture and storage (e-CCS) utilizes shallow reservoirs (<300 m) for CO capture, improving efficiency through the use of nano-modifying agents.
  • The study introduces carbon sphere molecular nano-sieves (CSMNS), made from cane molasses, as a novel material for selective CO adsorption during the e-CCS process.
  • Results show that functionalized sandstone with CSMNS significantly increased CO adsorption capacity by 730 times at 50 °C and 2.5 MPa, showing promise for better control of industrial CO emissions.
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Carbon-Ti nanocomposites were prepared by a controlled two-step method using microcrystalline cellulose as a raw material. The synthesis procedure involves the solubilization of cellulose by an acid treatment (HPO or HNO) and the impregnation with the Ti precursor followed of a carbonization step at 500 or 800 °C. The type of acid treatment leads to a different functionalization of cellulose with phosphorus- or oxygen-containing surface groups, which are able to control the load, dispersion and crystalline phase of Ti during the composite preparation.

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In order to improve the removal rates of paracetamol and amoxicillin present in water, activated carbons prepared from argan waste were designed as a support for a biofilm-based on E. coli yielding microporous materials with high surface areas, in such a way that the biofilm support could be made homogeneously on the internal and external surface of the material. Adsorption studies without the presence of the biofilm showed rapid kinetics with adsorption constants k = 0.

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Carbon materials are one of the most fascinating materials because of their unique properties and potential use in several applications. They can be obtained from agricultural waste, organic polymers, or by using advanced synthesizing technologies. The carbon family is very wide, it includes classical activated carbons to more advanced types like carbon gels, graphene, and so on.

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Activated carbons prepared by chemical activation from three different types of waste woods were treated with four agents: melamine, ammonium carbamate, nitric acid, and ammonium persulfate, for the introduction of nitrogen and oxygen groups on the surface of materials. The results indicate that the presence of the heteroatoms enhances the capacitance, energy density, and power density of all samples. The samples treated with ammonium persulfate show the maximum of capacitance of 290 F g while for the melamine, ammonium carbamate, and nitric acid treatments, the samples reached the maximum capacitances values of 283, 280, and 455 F g respectively.

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A total of two carbon xerogels doped with cobalt and nickel were prepared by the sol-gel method. The obtained carbon xerogels underwent further surface modification with three binary metal oxides namely: nickel cobaltite, nickel ferrite, and cobalt ferrite through the hydrothermal method. The mesopore volumes of these materials ranged between 0.

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The implementation of carbon capture and storage process (CCS) has been unsuccessful to date, mainly due to the technical issues and high costs associated with two main stages: (1) CO separation from flue gas and (2) CO injection in deep geological deposits, more than 300 m, where CO is in supercritical conditions. This study proposes, for the first time, an enhanced CCS process (e-CCS), in which the stage of CO separation is removed and the flue gas is injected directly in shallow reservoirs located at less than 300 m, where the adsorptive phenomena control CO storage. Nitrogen-rich carbon nanospheres were used as modifying agents of the reservoir porous texture to improve both the CO adsorption capacity and selectivity.

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Carbon nanocomposites microspheres were synthesized from Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) by a facile one-step strategy under solvent-free conditions. The synthesis of these materials was carried out in a closed Hastelloy reactor at 700 °C. The treatment, during which autogenic pressure was generated, leads to highly graphitic materials with stunning properties, particularly concerning the oxidation resistance (compared to the graphite stability).

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In the present study carbon xerogels are used for the first time to study the fibroblast cell growth. For that, carbon xerogel microspheres are synthesized and thereafter functionalized with carbon nanofibers followed by the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides (the so called "Prato reaction") or the addition of aryl diazonium salts (the so called "Tour reaction") to improve its wettability. The presence of nanofibers produces a huge improvement of the functionalization degree (59 versus 372 μmol/g for pristine carbon spheres and carbon spheres with 30% of carbon nanofibers, respectively) in spite of the blockage of the carbon spheres porosity caused after the nanofibers growth.

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Carbon⁻phosphorus⁻titanium composites (CPT) were synthesized by Ti-impregnation and carbonization of cellulose. Microcrystalline cellulose used as carbon precursor was initially dissolved by phosphoric acid (H₃PO₄) to favor the Ti-dispersion and the simultaneous functionalization of the cellulose chains with phosphorus-containing groups, namely phosphates and polyphosphates. These groups interacted with the Ti-precursor during impregnation and determined the interface transformations during carbonization as a function of the Ti-content and carbonization temperature.

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A series of carbon aerogels doped with iron, cobalt and nickel have been prepared. Metal nanoparticles very well dispersed into the carbon matrix catalyze the formation of graphitic clusters around them. Samples with different Ni content are obtained to test the influence of the metal loading.

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Five organic aerogels were prepared simultaneously by polycondensation of resorcinol and formaldehyde using different alkali carbonates (M(2)CO(3), M = Li, Na, K, Rb and Cs) as basification agents. The gelation time depended on the carbonate used, increasing from Li(2)CO(3) to Cs(2)CO(3). The porosity of the samples is defined during this process, when the three-dimensional packing of primary particles is formed.

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N-doped carbon xerogels were obtained from organic xerogels prepared using different N-containing organic compounds, including 3-hydroxy aniline, melamine, and 3-hydroxy pyridine. Carbonization was carried out between 500 and 900 degreeC. The surface chemistry of samples was determined by elemental analysis and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, their porous texture was determined by N2 and CO2 adsorption at (-)196 and 0degreeC, respectively, and their morphology was determined by scanning electron microscopy.

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