Preparation and Adsorption Properties of Graphene-Modified, Pitch-Based Carbon Foam Composites

In view of the good adsorption properties of graphene and carbon foam, they were combined to achieve the optimal matching of microstructures. Taking mesophase pitch as a raw material, pitch-based carbon foam was prepared by the self-foaming method. Graphene gel was prepared as the second phase to composite with the carbon foam matrix; graphene-modified, pitch-based carbon foam composites were finally obtained. Graphene gel was dispersed in the rich pore structure of carbon foam to improve its agglomeration and the porosity, and the active sites of the composite were further increased; the adsorption properties and mechanical properties of the composites were also significantly improved. The microstructure and morphology of the composites were studied by SEM, XRD and Raman spectroscopy; the compressive property and porosity were also tested. Methylene blue (MB) solution was used to simulate a dye solution for the adsorption test, and the influence of the composite properties and MB solution on the adsorption property was studied. Results showed that the compressive strength of the composite was 13.5 MPa, increased by 53.41%, and the porosity was 58.14%, increased by 24.15%, when compared to raw carbon foam. When the mass of the adsorbent was 150 mg, the initial concentration of the MB solution was 5 mg/L, and the pH value of the MB solution was 11; the graphene-modified carbon foam composites showed the best adsorption effect, with an adsorption rate of 96.3% and an adsorption capacity of 144.45 mg/g. Compared with the raw carbon foam, the adsorption rate and adsorption capacity of the composites were increased by 158.18% and 93.50%, respectively.