Enhanced PFAS adsorption with N-doped porous carbon beads from oil-sand asphaltene

摘要: Highly porous carbon beads with radially aligned macrochannels were synthesized from asphaltene for wastewater treatment and water filtration purposes. The unique porous structure of these beads facilitates efficient solute diffusion and maximizes liquid accommodation capacity, thanks to the well-ordered inwardly aligned macrovoids. Additionally, N-doping was employed to enhance the beads' adsorption properties, particularly for organic and inorganic solvents. Surface characterization data revealed that N2 modification introduced new surface functionalities, likely pyridine, and amine moieties, which actively participate in the adsorption process of polyfluoroalkyl and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Although the highest adsorbed amount of up to 74 μmol g−1 was observed for the unmodified materials, it is noteworthy that achieving equilibrium required an extensive period, exceeding 300 h. Interestingly …