From Cellulose to Carbonaceous Materials with Controlled Functionalities. FT-IR in Situ Study

Lignocellulosic materials (up to 50% of cellulose) are considered as precursors of efficient active carbon. The key step of lignocellulosic materials transformation to carbonaceous materials is their behavior between 250 and 450°C including dehydration and dehydroaromatization. The complex chemistry in this range of temperatures is not fully understood yet The chemistry of in situ transformation of cellulose studied under nitrogen or air atmospheres up to 450°C has been followed by FTIR spectroscopy (in DRIFT mode) using an environmental chamber. The possibilities of monitoring the chemical evolution of cellulose and thus the preparing of carbon materials precursors with controlled functionalities are demonstrated.