Sorbent foam material

Claim 2

A black sorbent thermoset foam which has been prepared by the pyrolysis of a composition liquid at the pyrolysis temperature comprising sulfuric acid and at least one aromatic nitrogen-containing compound having the general formula: X -- Ar -- Y in which Ar represents an aromatic nucleus, X represents a substituent having a negative Hammett sigma constant and attached by a nitrogen, oxygen or sulphur atom, and Y represents a substituent having a positive Hammett sigma constant and attached by a nitrogen atom, the substituents X and/or Y forming part of a ring fused onto the aromatic nucleus or attached directly to the aromatic nucleus, the thermoset foam having a specific surface area of at least 50 m 2 /g, and said pyrolysis comprising heating said composition to a temperature below 300° C. to initiate reaction of the said composition.

Claim 3

A thermoset foam as claimed in claim 1 which has a specific surface area of at least 200 m 2 /g.

Claim 4

A black sorbent thermoset foam which has been prepared by the pyrolysis of a composition liquid at the pyrolysis temperature comprising at least one aromatic nitrogen-containing compound having the general formula: X -- Ar -- Y in which Ar represents an aromatic nucleus, X represents a substituent having a negative Hammett sigma constant and attached by a nitrogen, oxygen or sulphur atom, and Y represents a substituent having a positive Hammett sigma constant and attached by a nitrogen atom, the substituents X and/or Y forming part of a ring fused onto the aromatic nucleus or attached directly to the aromatic nucleus, the thermoset foam having a specific surface area of at least 50 m 2 /g, and said pyrolysis comprising heating to a pyrolysis temperature of below 300° C. to initiate reaction a composition which is liquid at the pyrolysis temperature and which comprises at least one aromatic nitrogen-containing compound having the general formula: X -- Ar -- Y in which Ar represents an aromatic nucleus, X represents a substituent having a negative Hammett sigma constant and attached by a nitrogen, oxygen or sulphur atom, and, Y represents a substituent having a positive Hammett sigma constant and attached by a nitrogen atom, the substituents X and/or Y forming part of a ring fused onto the aromatic nucleus or attached directly to the aromatic nucleus and then subjecting the foam to further pyrolysis at a higher temperature to increase its surface area.

Claim 5

A black sorbent thermoset foam which has been prepared by the pyrolysis of a composition liquid at the pyrolysis temperature comprising at least one aromatic nitrogen-containing compound having the general formula: X -- Ar -- Y in which Ar represents an aromatic nucleus, X represents a substituent having a negative Hammett sigma constant and attached by a nitrogen, oxygen or sulphur atom, and Y represents a substituent having a positive Hammett sigma constant and attached by a nitrogen atom, the substituents X and/or Y forming part of a ring fused onto the aromatic nucleus or attached directly to the aromatic nucleus, the thermoset foam having a specific surface area of at least 50 m 2 /g, and said pyrolysis comprising heating to a pyrolysis temperature of below 300° C. to initiate reaction a composition which is liquid at the pyrolysis temperature and which comprises at least one aromatic nitrogen-containing compound having the general formula: X -- Ar -- Y in which Ar represents an aromatic nucleus, X represents a substituent having a negative Hammett sigma constant and attached by a nitrogen, oxygen or sulphur atom, and, Y represents a substituent having a positive Hammett sigma constant and attached by a nitrogen atom, the substituents X and/or Y forming part of a ring fused onto the aromatic nucleus or attached directly to the aromatic nucleus and then subjecting the foam to further pyrolysis at a higher temperature to increase its surface area.

Claim 6

A foam as claimed in claim 3 in which the strong acid is phosphoric acid and the molar ratio of acid to aromatic compound or compounds is from 1.6 to 3.0.

Claim 7

A foam as claimed in claim 3 in which the strong base is sodium or potassium hydroxide.

Claim 8

The foam of claim 3 wherein the product is purified by the application of heat to the foam after the exothermic reaction of formation slows to further drive the reaction of formation towards completion.

Claim 9

The foam of claim 3 wherein the pyrolysis is run at higher then atmospheric pressure.

Claim 10

A foam as claimed in claim 3 in which the at least one said aromatic nitrogen-containing compounds is a nitroaniline.

Claim 11

A black sorbent thermoset foam which has been prepared by the pyrolysis of a composition liquid at the pyrolysis temperature comprising at least one aromatic nitrogen-containing compound having the general formula: X -- Ar -- Y in which Ar represents an aromatic nucleus, X represents a substituent having a negative Hammett sigma constant and attached by a nitrogen, oxygen or sulphur atom, and Y represents a substituent having a positive Hammett sigma constant and attached by a nitrogen atom, the substituents X and/or Y forming part of a ring fused onto the aromatic nucleus or attached directly to the aromatic nucleus, the thermoset foam having a specific surface area of at least 50 m 2 /g, and said pyrolysis comprising heating to a pyrolysis temperature of below 300° C. to initiate reaction a composition which is liquid at the pyrolysis temperature and which comprises at least one aromatic nitrogen-containing compound having the general formula: X -- Ar -- Y in which Ar represents an aromatic nucleus, X represents a substituent having a negative Hammett sigma constant and attached by a nitrogen, oxygen or sulphur atom, and, Y represents a substituent having a positive Hammett sigma constant and attached by a nitrogen atom, the substituents X and/or Y forming part of a ring fused onto the aromatic nucleus or attached directly to the aromatic nucleus in which the composition further comprises a mixture of at least one said aromatic nitrogen-containing compound and a soluble salt, the method further comprising leaching of the salt from the foam formed by the pyrolysis.

Claim 12

A black sorbent thermoset foam which has been prepared by the pyrolysis of a composition liquid at the pyrolysis temperature comprising at least one aromatic nitrogen-containing compound having the general formula: X -- Ar -- Y in which Ar represents an aromatic nucleus, X represents a substituent having a negative Hammett sigma constant and attached by a nitrogen, oxygen or sulphur atom, and Y represents a substituent having a positive Hammett sigma constant and attached by a nitrogen atom, the substituents X and/or Y forming part of a ring fused onto the aromatic nucleus or attached directly to the aromatic nucleus, the thermoset foam having a specific surface area of at least 50 m 2 /g, and said pyrolysis comprising heating to a pyrolysis temperature of below 300° C. to initiate reaction a composition which is liquid at the pyrolysis temperature and which comprises at least one aromatic nitrogen-containing compound having the general formula: X -- Ar -- Y in which Ar represents an aromatic nucleus, X represents a substituent having a negative Hammett sigma constant and attached by a nitrogen, oxygen or sulphur atom, and, Y represents a substituent having a positive Hammett sigma constant and attached by a nitrogen atom, the substituents X and/or Y forming part of a ring fused onto the aromatic nucleus or attached directly to the aromatic nucleus in which the composition further comprises a mixture of at least one said aromatic nitrogen-containing compound and a soluble salt, the method further comprising leaching of the salt from the foam formed by the pyrolysis.

Claim 13

A black sorbent thermoset foam which has been prepared by the pyrolysis of a composition liquid at the pyrolysis temperature comprising at least one aromatic nitrogen-containing compound having the general formula: X -- Ar -- Y in which Ar represents an aromatic nucleus, X represents a substituent having a negative Hammett sigma constant and attached by a nitrogen, oxygen or sulphur atom, and Y represents a substituent having a positive Hammett sigma constant and attached by a nitrogen atom, the substituents X and/or Y forming part of a ring fused onto the aromatic nucleus or attached directly to the aromatic nucleus, the thermoset foam having a specific surface area of at least 50 m 2 /g, and said pyrolysis comprising heating to a pyrolysis temperature of below 300° C. to initiate reaction a composition which is liquid at the pyrolysis temperature and which comprises at least one aromatic nitrogen-containing compound having the general formula: X -- Ar -- Y in which Ar represents an aromatic nucleus, X represents a substituent having a negative Hammett sigma constant and attached by a nitrogen, oxygen or sulphur atom, and, Y represents a substituent having a positive Hammett sigma constant and attached by a nitrogen atom, the substituents X and/or Y forming part of a ring fused onto the aromatic nucleus or attached directly to the aromatic nucleus and then subjecting the foam to further pyrolysis at a higher temperature under inert atmosphere to increase its surface area.

Claim 14

A black sorbent thermoset foam which has been prepared by the pyrolysis of a composition liquid at the pyrolysis temperature comprising at least one aromatic nitrogen-containing compound having the general formula: X -- Ar -- Y in which Ar represents an aromatic nucleus, X represents a substituent having a negative Hammett sigma constant and attached by a nitrogen, oxygen or sulphur atom, and Y represents a substituent having a positive Hammett sigma constant and attached by a nitrogen atom, the substituents X and/or Y forming part of a ring fused onto the aromatic nucleus or attached directly to the aromatic nucleus, the thermoset foam having a specific surface area of at least 50 m 2 /g, and said pyrolysis comprising heating to a pyrolysis temperature of below 300° C. to initiate reaction a composition which is liquid at the pyrolysis temperature and which comprises at least one aromatic nitrogen-containing compound having the general formula: X -- Ar -- Y in which Ar represents an aromatic nucleus, X represents a substituent having a negative Hammett sigma constant and attached by a nitrogen, oxygen or sulphur atom, and, Y represents a substituent having a positive Hammett sigma constant and attached by a nitrogen atom, the substituents X and/or Y forming part of a ring fused onto the aromatic nucleus or attached directly to the aromatic nucleus and then subjecting the foam to further pyrolysis at a higher temperature under inert atmosphere to increase its surface area.