Recovery of Adsorption Properties of Shungite

The condition of the surface of natural mesoporous carbonaceous material shungite has been investigated using the electron microscopy, X-ray phase and microspectrum analyses. The ability to recover the adsorption properties of shungite in respect to the extraction of higher alcohols and other impurities from water-alcohol solutions was investigated by the methods of thermogravimetry and IR spectroscopy. The main distinction of absorption spectra of used-up shungite with respect to the initial sample is the absence of absorption by hydroxyl groups (3380 cm−1) and significant reduction of the contribution of component at 1170 cm−1 that corresponds to absorption of phenol groups. It is shown that the heat treatment in argon, with water vapor and in the CO2 medium results in almost complete removal of sorbed organic substances and the regeneration of adsorption properties of shungite, the latest technique is more economically justified.