RediNano project

"Rediscovering the Potentials of Old Plants for Dry Distillation of Wood-Exotic Nanocarbons" Funded from the “Sinergija” call

Project resume:

The process of dry distillation of wood has been a subject of interest to the industry since the late 19^th century. This industry has become economically successful very quickly, but very little attention has been paid to intermediate products that occur during the pyrolysis process of the wood.

In the process of dry distillation, followed by pyrolysis of wood, it seems that “exotic” carbon structures (unusual forms of coiled nanotubes) develop. This was proved by UNIBL in preliminary SEM and BET tests a carbon from “Destilacija” Teslić. These structures will be examined for the first time and as a unique scientific contribution.

Carbon nanomaterials have been the focus of attention of the international public for the last 30 years, and the quality and technological importance of these old/new structures will be examined.

The presented project also focuses on the development of the production process of nanoporous carbon for the first time from domestic Bosnian raw materials (cellulose materials from agriculture that we have in abundance). The wood or other cellulose materials will be saturated with a solutions of inorganic salts and subjected to distillation, pyrolysis, activation and the product should later be washed, dried ready for use.

These processes are known to yield the product of a large specific surface area, nanoporous activated carbon, which is one of the most widely used adsorbents in the world. This, well-known technology should be implemented in Republic of Srpska and over Bosnia and Herzegovina to cover the current need, which go at least to few hundred tons annually.

Expected Results

The industrial partner will increase the value of their products
Republika Srpska will acquire its own producer of activated carbon and become self-sustainable in this important area
New workplaces will be generated
Publication of scientific papers on the subject of a new process on domestic materials and on the subject of unusual carbon structures generated on conventional equipment, for which no one published in 130 years
Young researchers participating in the project will gain significant experience in applied nanotechnology