Carbon Nanotubes as a New Material for the Purification of Alcohol-Containing Liquids

Abstract

Ethyl alcohol, which has a wide application in pharmaceutics, chemical, electronic and food-processing industry, practically always contains various impurities. Many of these impurities are found in quantities which are not sufficient to influence organoleptic effects and toxic potential of ethyl alcohol. However, the quantity of some of them, such as aldehydes, fusel oil, ethers and methyl alcohol is strictly regulated. The paper suggests a new effective method of purifying alcohol-containing liquids from undesirable impurities. At present, development in many areas of science and technology is associated with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) [1 -6]. One of their remarkable features of is related to their unique sorption characteristics. The highly curved surface of CNTs can adsorb rather complex molecules including molecules of organic origin. The effectiveness of nanotubes with respect to organic molecules is ten times greater than the that one of graphite adsorbents, which are currently considered the most common means of purification. Therefore, nanotubes can be used for final purification of various liquids from extremely low concentrations of impurities. We performed quantumchemical study of molecul adsorption of heavy alcohols (normal and isomeric propanol) on the outer surface of single-walled carbon nanotubes. We constructed energy curves of interaction of normal propanol and isopropanol molecules with the CNT's surface (6, 6). We also established the most effective adsorption centres for molecules of heavy alcohols. We also proved the feasibility of physical adsorption. We developed and implemented a method of alcohol liquids purification from impurities with CNTs. We carried out experimental study of water-ethanol mixtures taken before and after purification with carbon nanomaterials, applying molecular methods of IR spectroscopy, chromatography and chemical analysis and proved the positive effect of carbon nanotubes on the process of purifying alcohol liquids from adverse impurities.

Applications and synthesis of nanostructured carbon in the food industry

“…[2 -4]. Carbon nanotubes have unique sorption characteristics [5], enabling them to be used for finishing various food liquids from difficult to remove by-products [6].…”