Molecular sieving of linear and branched C6 alkanes by tannin-derived carbons

Two micro-mesoporous carbons (MMCs): a disordered mesoporous carbon (DMC) and an ordered (OMC), synthesized by easy, low-cost, green method are proposed as efficient hydrocarbon sieves for the separation of C6 isomers: n-hexane (nHEX), 2-methylpenthane (2 MP) 2,2-dimethylbutane (22DMB). Their textural characterization reveals highly interconnected pore network within DMC, while reverse hierarchy mesopores only accessible through narrow micropores is found in OMC. The texture strongly affects their adsorption performance kinetic molecular sieving effects; constrictions OMC allow nHEX partially 2 MP but not 22DMB, whereas connected DMC allows three isomers. Multi-component isotherms calculated from single-component experimental results ideal adsorbed solution theory (IAST) demonstrates that material has remarkably high selectivity + binary ternary mixtures, respectively. To best authors’ knowledge, such behavior never been reported so far materials. Hence, this study shows tannin-derived MMCs have great potential to be used eco-friendly low-cost alternative selective di-branched