Oosthuizen Hester (1)*, du Toit Elizabeth (2), Focke Walter (1)
(1) Institute of Applied Materials, Dept. of Chemical Engineering, University of Pretoria - Gauteng - SouthAfrica, (2) Institute of Applied Materials, Dept. of Chemical Engineering, University of Pretoria - Gauteng - SouthAfrica
Carbon scaffolds were prepared by carbonization of cellulose strands produced by extrusion compounding with the aid of ionic liquids acting as plasticisers. Microcrystalline cellulose was compounded with 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate, choline chloride as well as a mixture of the two ionic liquids at a 1:1 mass ratio. For the 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate system three different compositions were evaluated, namely 45 wt-%, 50 wt-% and 55 wt-% 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate. Leaching with water removed the ionic liquids. TGA analysis was performed to determine the thermal stability of the carbon scaffolds and the carbon yield. The porous cellulose samples were carbonized at 900°C in a nitrogen atmosphere. Surface area was determined by BET analysis, phase structure by Raman and XRD and the physical morphology was investigated with SEM.