Opal promotes hydrothermal carbonization of hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose and formation of carbon nanospheres

Hydrothermal carbon nanospheres were prepared by introducing opal into the hydrothermal carbonization system of hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC). Then the effects of opal on hydrothermal carbonization of HPMC were investigated after different reaction durations (105–240 min). The reaction products were characterized by elemental analysis, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and N(2) adsorption–desorption. Results of elemental analysis indicated that the H (hydrogen) and O (oxygen) content of HPMC decreased through dehydration, demethylation, decarbonylation and hydrolysis reactions, forming hydrochar with higher carbon content. The addition of opal was confirmed to accelerate the hydrolysis of HPMC. N(2) adsorption–desorption tests and SEM analysis showed that opal with a large specific surface area adsorbed HPMC hydrolysis products, such as furans, and facilitated furan cyclodehydration on its surfaces to form cross-linked carbons, which contributed to the quick formation of hydrochar. Moreover, the adsorption by opal also inhibited hydrochar aggregation, so the final hydrothermal carbon spheres had sizes of 20–100 nm.