Glucose was hydrothermally treated to produce an amorphous oxygenated carbon structure known as biochar. Ball-milling was used to generate structural changes on the biochar and the time-dependence of these changes was studied. Raman spectroscopy was the primary tool for these studies, with additional Electron-spin resonance experiments carried out to verify structural changes. Ball-milling appears to produce enough strain on the char to generate defect sites. These radical sites accumulate with extended ball-milling time and form new locally stable structures within the char. Utilizing the radical molecules prior to their stabilization may be a new approach to greener functionalization of carbon-based catalysts.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Heckley, Erin Michelle
• Venegas, Juan Mauricio
• Toto, Joseph Jeremy

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-042914-155456

Advisor

• Timko, Michael T.

Year

• 2014

Date created

• 2014-04-29

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Chemical Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright