Abstract
The carbonization behavior for the water plants, Elodea nuttallii, was investigated using Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy, FTIR, coupled to a diamond attenuated total internal reflectance accessory, ATR, and wide-angle X-ray diffraction, WAXD, measurements. FTIR-ATR spectra for the carbonized materials suggested that the formation of benzene rings was promoted with elevating the carbonization temperature. However, the carbonized materials showed keen WAXD peaks from inorganic compounds instead of the carbon such as 002, 10 diffractions etc. Similar carbonization treatment was performed on the refined cellulose from the water plants. It showed distinct WAXD peaks of carbon. It seems that certain inorganic compounds in the water plants suppressed the polycondensation of benzene rings. The carbonized materials from the water plants showed a poor adsorption capacity to methylene blue, but had an excellent property for the cultivation of vegetables.
