Hydrothermal synthesis of carbonaceous spheres starting from different starches

Abstract

Carbonaceous spheres (CSs) were prepared by hydrothermal treatment of corn, potato and rice starches. Each starch powder (corn: 1.0–4.0 g, potato: 1.0 g, or rice: 1.0 g) was dispersed in 40 mL H₂O in a Teflon-lined stainless autoclave, and the autoclave was heated at 160°C for 4–16 h. The solid products after hydrothermal treatment were washed and dried to obtain CSs. CSs from the potato starch showed the narrowest particle-size distribution, which can be attributed to its B-type starch structure. Although the particle-size distribution of CSs was affected by starting starches, chemical characteristics were almost identical for all starches.