Formation of Fine Spherical Carbons under Hydrothermal Conditions

Abstract

The dechlorinating decomposition of CH₂Cl₂ was studied with a micro-autoclave (10 ml volume) under alkaline hydrothermal conditions. The transition process of the dechlorinating products to spherical carbons was followed by a scanning electron microscope. It was found that the formation of the spherical carbons resulted in the spherical aggregation of initial dechlorinating products (needle crystals) at 200°C. The neat and uniform globular ca rbons were produced under conditions of a low alkaline content (below the equimolar ratio of [Na]/[C1]) at 300°C. The size of these spherical carbons was ca.2∼3μ m. The spherical ca rbons formed under conditions of a high alkaline content were of various sizes.