Dear Colleagues,

Carbon-based adsorbents are a broad class of materials including graphitic and amorphous carbons, and are widely used in different fields such as filtration, electrochemistry, purification and catalysis. However, the complexity of their structure and the variety of interactions occurring during the adsorption process generates a number of unexpected noteworthy chemical-physical phenomena. The deep understanding of these phenomena often results in remarkable unique applications. The aim of this Special Issue is to provide a detailed description of the performances, characteristics, and unclear aspects of the most promising families of carbon-based materials. 

The papers for this Special Issue should be focused mainly, although not exclusively, on advanced practical applications of carbon-based adsorbents such as graphitic carbons, graphene, carbon nanotubes, activated carbon fibers, and fullerene-based materials, excluding those obtained with active charcoals, on which a large body of literature is already available. Papers discussing the physical-chemical characterization of carbon-based adsorbents using spectroscopic techniques are also welcome, especially when dealing with those molecular-level interactions affecting performance. Papers dealing with modifications of carbon-based adsorbents (including electrochemical modulation) will also be included, as far as evidence is provided of advantages that their use has in terms of ease of use and economic reward. Emphasis should be given to investigations on those aspects, such as adsorption (either in gas or liquid phases), catalysis, and functionalization processes of carbon-based materials, that can lead to original and challenging applications in various scientific fields, such as advanced materials technologies and environmental, separation, and biological sciences, including more recent applications in space technologies and preventing the spread of coronavirus.

Prof. Dr. Carlo Crescenzi
Dr. Paolo Ciccioli
Prof. Dr. Sara Bogialli
Prof. Dr. Maria Sarno
Guest Editors

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• Carbon-based adsorbents
• Graphitic carbon materials
• Adsorption and catalysis mechanism
• Solid-phase extraction
• Separation techniques
• Spectroscopic characterization

Tentative title: “ Surface chemistry of polymer-based nanoporous carbons and their application to the adsorption of amines”

Abstract: Due to their pore structure, activated carbons have been traditionally used for media purification in a wide variety of applications. Pharmaceutical impurities can contain in some cases dangling amine groups. However, activated charcoals commonly used in downstream purifications have a basic surface pH. A polymer-based carbon containing an acidic and hydrophilic surface could be more effective for the separation of amine impurities. The objective of this report was to characterize and evaluate the ability of an acidic polymer-based nanoporous carbon in the 30-70 µm particle size range to remove model amines by measuring the static kinetic and equilibrium adsorption capacity and by comparing the acidic polymer-carbon to a commercial charcoal.

Tentative title: “ A preliminary evaluation of single-walled carbon nanohorns as boosting surface for the analysis of low-molecular weight compounds by SALDI-MS”

Abstract: Limits of Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry in the study of low molecular weight analytes are mainly related to the presence of ionic species in the low m/z region generated by the ionization and reactions of the matrix. For these reasons, in recent years many efforts were done to achieve the production of analyte signals without the presence/assistance of matrices, and avoiding/reducing the severe decomposition reactions typical of LDI conditions. Interesting results have been obtained by the deposition of the analyte on specific surfaces, paving the way for different applications based on Surface-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization (SALDI).

In the present study, single-walled carbon nanohorns (SWCNH) were tested as boosting surface to develop and optimize a novel SALDI-based method for the rapid analysis of different classes of compounds with molecular weight up to 1000 Da, e.g.. amino acids and lipids.

SWCNH were tested in LDI condition in order to describe the chemical entities possibly interfering at low m/z values. LDI spectra showed a series of highly abundant signals in the range 700-4500 m/z, owing to the molecular weight distribution and to decomposition processes of SWCHNs. Interfering species were negligible at laser power lower than 50%.

Several amino acids, with different molecular weight and polarity, were tested as analytes after proper deposition of the sample on the developed SWCNH-surface. In the acquired spectra, amino acids were detectable as cationized species with K⁺ and Na⁺, while the protonated species [M+H]⁺ were generally not present.

SWCNH-based surface was also tested for the analysis of triglycerides in real olive oil samples to determine the percentage composition of fatty acids without any sample treatment.

The obtained results indicate that SWCNH is a promising substrate for the analysis of low molecular weight compounds with different polarities by SALDI mass spectrometry-based approaches.

Tentative title:  Lignocellulose Biomass as Bisosorbent for Waste Water Treatment and Removal of Agricultural Drugs: A Status Quo on Mechanistical Details