Development of a chemical-free floatation technology for the purification of vein graphite and characterization of the products
Abstract A novel and simple flotation technique has been developed to prepare high-purity graphite from impure graphite. In this method, a suspension of pristine powdered graphite (PG) is dispersed and stirred in water without adding froth formers or supportive chemicals. This makes fine particles o...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2021-11-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-02101-9 |
| _version_ | 1818433819851620352 |
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| author | Gamaralalage R. A. Kumara Herath Mudiyanselage G. T. A. Pitawala Buddika Karunarathne Mantilaka Mudiyanselage M. G. P. G. Mantilaka Rajapakse Mudiyanselage G. Rajapakse Hsin-Hui Huang K. Kanishka H. De Silva Masamichi Yoshimura |
| author_facet | Gamaralalage R. A. Kumara Herath Mudiyanselage G. T. A. Pitawala Buddika Karunarathne Mantilaka Mudiyanselage M. G. P. G. Mantilaka Rajapakse Mudiyanselage G. Rajapakse Hsin-Hui Huang K. Kanishka H. De Silva Masamichi Yoshimura |
| author_sort | Gamaralalage R. A. Kumara |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract A novel and simple flotation technique has been developed to prepare high-purity graphite from impure graphite. In this method, a suspension of pristine powdered graphite (PG) is dispersed and stirred in water without adding froth formers or supportive chemicals. This makes fine particles of graphite move upwards and float on water. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis reveals that the floated graphite (FG) has a lower c-axis parameter, indicating the removal of interlayer impurities. A notable increase in the intensity ratio of the D band to G band in the Raman spectra indicates that the FG has more edge defects due to their smaller crystallite sizes. Transmission electron microscopic (TEM) analysis shows the number of layers in FG has been reduced to 16 from 68 in PG. The absence of C=O vibration of Fourier Transformed Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy in treated and untreated samples suggests that their layers are not significantly oxidized. However, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic (XPS) analysis shows the presence of C–O–C ether functionalities, possibly on edge planes. Further, the product has higher purity with increased carbon content. Therefore, the technique is helpful for the value enhancement of graphite, the reduction of the chemical cost of the conventional techniques, environmental friendliness, and improvement of its applications. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T16:27:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0eeb91dbbca74890ad62fadb515cf8f6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T16:27:10Z |
| publishDate | 2021-11-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-0eeb91dbbca74890ad62fadb515cf8f62022-12-21T22:54:39ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222021-11-0111111010.1038/s41598-021-02101-9Development of a chemical-free floatation technology for the purification of vein graphite and characterization of the productsGamaralalage R. A. Kumara0Herath Mudiyanselage G. T. A. Pitawala1Buddika Karunarathne2Mantilaka Mudiyanselage M. G. P. G. Mantilaka3Rajapakse Mudiyanselage G. Rajapakse4Hsin-Hui Huang5K. Kanishka H. De Silva6Masamichi Yoshimura7National Institute of Fundamental StudiesPostgraduate Institute of Science, University of PeradeniyaNational Institute of Fundamental StudiesPostgraduate Institute of Science, University of PeradeniyaDepartment of Chemistry, University of PeradeniyaGraduate School of Engineering, Toyota Technological InstituteGraduate School of Engineering, Toyota Technological InstituteGraduate School of Engineering, Toyota Technological InstituteAbstract A novel and simple flotation technique has been developed to prepare high-purity graphite from impure graphite. In this method, a suspension of pristine powdered graphite (PG) is dispersed and stirred in water without adding froth formers or supportive chemicals. This makes fine particles of graphite move upwards and float on water. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis reveals that the floated graphite (FG) has a lower c-axis parameter, indicating the removal of interlayer impurities. A notable increase in the intensity ratio of the D band to G band in the Raman spectra indicates that the FG has more edge defects due to their smaller crystallite sizes. Transmission electron microscopic (TEM) analysis shows the number of layers in FG has been reduced to 16 from 68 in PG. The absence of C=O vibration of Fourier Transformed Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy in treated and untreated samples suggests that their layers are not significantly oxidized. However, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic (XPS) analysis shows the presence of C–O–C ether functionalities, possibly on edge planes. Further, the product has higher purity with increased carbon content. Therefore, the technique is helpful for the value enhancement of graphite, the reduction of the chemical cost of the conventional techniques, environmental friendliness, and improvement of its applications.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-02101-9 |
| spellingShingle | Gamaralalage R. A. Kumara Herath Mudiyanselage G. T. A. Pitawala Buddika Karunarathne Mantilaka Mudiyanselage M. G. P. G. Mantilaka Rajapakse Mudiyanselage G. Rajapakse Hsin-Hui Huang K. Kanishka H. De Silva Masamichi Yoshimura Development of a chemical-free floatation technology for the purification of vein graphite and characterization of the products Scientific Reports |
| title | Development of a chemical-free floatation technology for the purification of vein graphite and characterization of the products |
| title_full | Development of a chemical-free floatation technology for the purification of vein graphite and characterization of the products |
| title_fullStr | Development of a chemical-free floatation technology for the purification of vein graphite and characterization of the products |
| title_full_unstemmed | Development of a chemical-free floatation technology for the purification of vein graphite and characterization of the products |
| title_short | Development of a chemical-free floatation technology for the purification of vein graphite and characterization of the products |
| title_sort | development of a chemical free floatation technology for the purification of vein graphite and characterization of the products |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-02101-9 |
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