Sibunit-based catalytic materials for the deep oxidation of organic ecotoxicants in aqueous solution: I. Surface properties of the oxidized sibunit samples

This article presents the first systematic study of the effect of oxidation under various conditions on the surface composition and catalytic properties of a carbon material of the Sibunit family (which is promising for oxidative treatment of industrial wastewater) in deep oxidation of organic ecotoxicants in aqueous solution. Modification of the surface properties and texture of Sibunit-4 by various oxidative treatment procedures using nitric acid, sodium hypochlorite, hydrogen peroxide, or oxygen as the oxidant is reported. The chemical state of the surface of oxidized Sibunit and its texture have been investigated by a combination of physical and chemical methods (XPS, acid-base titration with bases differing in strength, pH slurry measurements, determination of pH at the point of zero charge, and low-temperature N2 adsorption). By using different oxidation procedures, it is possible to obtain oxidized Sibunit samples with variable concentrations and natures of oxygen-containing surface groups.