The effect of modification on the physicochemical characteristics of shungite

The influence of thermo- and mechanochemical modification of mineral shungite-III (Karelia, Russia) on its chemical composition and physicochemical properties has been studied. A method has been proposed for the mechanochemical modification of shungite, which yields a finely dispersed sorbent with a specific surface area of 70.6 m2/g, a total pore volume of 0.336 cm3/g, and a carbon concentration of higher than 75%. The comparative analysis of the thermolysis of the mineral and modified shungites in air has revealed a difference between the thermal stabilities of the samples. Almost all of the carbon of modified finely dispersed shungite combusts below 500°C, whereas the decomposition of mineral shungite starts above 600°C and only 60% of carbon combusts at 800°C.