Mesoporous carbon, and method and formulation for preparing mesoporous carbon

Abstract

A method of making mesoporous carbon comprises heating a cured precursor formulation, which includes a crosslinked carbon source resin, a carbon powder, an organic pore forming agent, and an inorganic pore forming agent, to a carbonization temperature, such that the organic pore forming agent is removed and the crosslinked carbon source resin is converted to carbon. A carbonized product is thus formed. The carbonized product is exposed to an alkaline solution and the inorganic pore forming agent is removed by dissolution. Accordingly, mesoporous carbon is formed.

Description

MESOPOROUS CARBON, AND METHOD AND FORMULATION FOR PREPARING MESOPOROUS CARBONCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 63 / 623,541 filed on January 22, 2024, the content of which is relied upon and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] This disclosure relates generally to materials suitable for adsorption-based CO2 capture and more particularly to a method of making mesoporous carbon.BACKGROUND

[0003] The increasing level of carbon dioxide (CO2) emission is considered one of the major environmental challenges that our planet is facing today. Since the onset of the Industrial Revolution in the 18thcentury, the atmospheric concentration of CO2 increased from about 280 ppm to 417 ppm in 2022. The record-high level of atmospheric CO2 concentration is the impetus for climate change and a sea level rise of 1-3 mm per year. If no action is taken, the atmospheric CO2 concentration is estimated to rise to 450 ppm by 2050. Because of surging public concerns about potential environmental damage, carbon capture and storage / sequestration (CCS) or utilization (CCU) have become key research topics in the twenty-first century. CCS aims at geological storage of CO2 in the deep underground, whereas CCU is a concept in which captured CO2 is utilized as a carbon source for chemical feedstocks, such as fuels and fine chemicals. The scientific community and industry are gradually concluding that CCS has economic limitations. Hence, industries are shifting toward exploration of CCU technologies.

[0004] Among carbon capture technologies, there is a growing interest in adsorption-based CO2 capture due to its combined potential of reduced energy penalty and easy retrofitting withminimal integration into existing industrial plants. The lower energy penalty is due to the lower specific heat capacity of solid sorbents in addition to avoiding evaporation of a large amount of water in the regeneration as compared to solvent-based technologies. More importantly, adsorption-based technology can offer the flexibility of capturing CO2 from different industrial CO2 sources due to its different sorbent regeneration modes (temperature / pressure swings) and reactor types. In recent years, many studies have been carried out to develop highly efficient materials, such as zeolites, porous carbons, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and metal oxides for capturing CO2.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] The embodiments may be better understood with reference to the following drawings and description. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale.

[0006] FIGS. lAand IB show exemplary steps in amethodto produce mesoporous carbon.

[0007] FIG. 2A illustrates an exemplary procedure for forming a precursor solution to prepare mesoporous carbon.

[0008] FIG. 2B illustrates an exemplary procedure for forming a carbonized product from the precursor formulation.

[0009] FIG. 2C illustrates an exemplary procedure for treating the carbonized product with an alkaline solution to form mesoporous carbon.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0010] Described in this disclosure is a formulation and method for preparing mesoporous carbon having a novel porous structure capable of accommodating a high concentration of amines for CO2 capture. Mesoporous carbon exhibits good thermal and chemical stability and has a surface that can be readily functionalized. Mesoporous carbon prepared as described herein and modified with amine functional groups may provide excellent CO2 uptake capacity, fast adsorption kinetics and easy regeneration with stable cycling performance.

[0011] The formulation for preparing the mesoporous carbon comprises a mixture of a liquid carrier, a carbon source resin, carbon powder, an organic pore forming agent (or “organicpore former”), and an inorganic pore forming agent (or “inorganic pore former”). The formulation (“precursor formulation”) may be prepared by combining the organic pore forming agent dissolved in the liquid carrier with the carbon source resin, the carbon powder, and the inorganic pore forming agent, which is preferably dispersed in the carbon source resin. Advantageously, the materials according to the current disclosure provide particularly high porosity, and especially a particularly high porosity in the mesopore size range (e.g., from 2 nm to 50 nm), which may be well suited for functionalization with amines or loading of other sorbent materials, such as for use in the selective capture of carbon dioxide or other gas. The precursor formulation may undergo drying and curing steps, as shown in FIG. 1 A and described further below, to form a cured precursor formulation for carbonization. After carbonization and exposure to an alkaline solution, as discussed below in regard to FIG. IB, mesoporous carbon is obtained.

[0012] The formulation and method described herein may enable preparation of mesoporous carbon having a disordered or nonuniform arrangement of pores. The mesoporous carbon may further have a multimodal porous structure, where the pores include mesopores from 2 nm to 50 nm in linear size (that is, width or diameter) and also macropores of greater than 50 nm in linear size . There may be a bimodal or multimodal distribution of pore sizes . The hierarchical porous structure may originate from the pore structure of the carbon powder, the use and removal of both organic and inorganic pore forming agents, and an optional postsynthesis activation process. The mesoporous carbon may have the physical form of a coating, e.g., on a ceramic honeycomb substrate, as described below, or a self-supporting monolith.

[0013] Referring now to FIG. 1A, the method may comprise mixing together 102 the liquid carrier, the carbon source resin, the carbon powder, the organic pore forming agent, and the inorganic pore forming agent to form the precursor formulation. As described in the examples, the organic pore forming agent may first be dissolved in the liquid carrier to form a precursor solution, and the carbon source resin, carbon powder, and inorganic pore forming agent may then be added to the precursor solution and mixed (e.g., by stirring, shaking, sonication, etc.) to form the precursor formulation.

[0014] The carbon powder may include activated carbon, carbon black, carbon soot, carbon fullerene, carbon nanofiber, carbon nanotubes, graphene, and / or graphite. Preferably the carbonpowder has a porous microstructure and / or a large surface area. Activated carbon, which may be formed from physically or chemically treated (“activated”) carbonaceous precursors, may be especially suitable for use as the carbon powder.

[0015] The carbon source resin may comprise a curable polymer resin that crosslinks when heated above a curing temperature and which decomposes to produce carbon when heated above a carbonization or pyrolysis temperature. Accordingly, a suitable carbon source resin may include a thermosetting resin, such as phenolic resin, furan resin, or epoxy resin, and / or another crosslinkable resin. Preferably, the carbon source resin produces a high char or carbon yield upon carbonization, such as at least about 40%, or at least about 50%.

[0016] The organic pore forming agent may comprise a polymer having a decomposition temperature above the curing temperature of the carbon source resin and at or below the carbonization temperature. The polymer may be water-soluble. For example, the polymer may comprise polyethylene glycol (PEG), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), or glycerin. The organic pore forming agent functions as a fugitive material that is present in the precursor formulation before and after curing, but is absent from the carbonized product and the mesoporous carbon. Removal of the organic pore forming agent leads to formation of a population of pores within the carbonized product and the mesoporous carbon.

[0017] The inorganic pore forming agent may comprise an inorganic material which is dissolvable in an alkaline solution. The inorganic material and thus the inorganic pore forming agent may have a particulate form (e.g., a powder). A suitable inorganic material may comprise a metal oxide such as silica, alumina, or zirconia. The silica may include, for example, colloidal silica, silica soot, and / or fumed silica. The inorganic pore forming agent functions as a fugitive material that is present in the precursor formulation (before and after curing) and in the carbonized product, but is absent from the mesoporous carbon formed upon alkaline solution treatment. Removal (dissolution) of the inorganic pore forming agent leads to formation of an additional population of pores within the mesoporous carbon.

[0018] The liquid carrier may comprise water and / or an organic solvent, such as methanol or ethanol.

[0019] In some examples, the precursor mixture may include the liquid carrier at concentration from 35 to 70 wt.%; the carbon source resin at a concentration from 10 to 30wt.%; the carbon powder at a concentration from 5 to 8 wt.%; the organic pore forming agent at a concentration from 15 to 21 wt.%; and the inorganic pore forming agent at a concentration from 5 to 15 wt.%. More specifically, the liquid carrier may include water at a concentration from 20 to 45 wt.% and an organic solvent at a concentration from 15 to 25 wt.%.

[0020] Referring again to FIG. 1A, removing 104 the liquid carrier from the precursor mixture may entail drying, such that the liquid carrier (e.g., water, organic solvent) evaporates and a dried precursor formulation is obtained. For example, the precursor formulation may undergo passive drying at ambient temperature (e.g., 22-25°C) or active drying at an elevated temperature (e.g., 110-120°C). In other examples, the removal 102 of the liquid carrier (e.g., drying) may occur as the precursor formulation is heated 104 to the curing temperature of the carbon source resin, instead of in a separate drying step.

[0021] As a consequence of heating 104 to the curing temperature, the carbon source resin undergoes crosslinking to form a crosslinked carbon source resin. Preferably, the curing temperature is sufficient to crosslink the carbon source resin without decomposing the organic pore forming agent. In other words, the curing temperature of the carbon source resin is preferably below a decomposition temperature of the organic pore forming agent. Typically, the curing temperature is in a range from about 130°C to about 170°C. Curing may take place for a time period from about 30 minutes to 3 hours. After exposure to the curing temperature for a suitable time duration, a cured precursor formulation including the crosslinked carbon source resin, the carbon powder, the organic pore forming agent, and the inorganic pore forming agent is obtained.

[0022] In some examples, prior to removing the liquid carrier from the mixture, the precursor formulation may be coated onto a substrate, e.g., a ceramic substrate, or more particularly, a ceramic honeycomb substrate comprising an array of intersecting walls arranged in a repeating pattern of cells that define channels extending through the honeycomb substrate. Suitable ceramic substrates may comprise, for example, cordierite, a magnesium aluminum silicate. Other suitable materials include crystalline or amorphous alumina, silica, and / or aluminosilicate materials. The coating may entail dip coating, spin coating, spray coating, or another suitable coating method. Preferably, the coating is a conformal coating where all or substantially all exposed or internal surfaces of the substrate are coated (e.g., on the surfacesof the channels of a honeycomb substrate and / or into the porous walls thereof). While coated on the substrate, the precursor formulation may undergo curing as described above to form the crosslinked carbon source resin, followed by carbonization and alkaline solution exposure as described below, such that the resulting mesoporous carbon takes the form of a mesoporous carbon layer.

[0023] Referring now to the flow chart of FIG. IB, the method of making mesoporous carbon includes heating 108 the cured precursor formulation, which includes the crosslinked carbon source resin, the carbon powder, the organic pore forming agent, and the inorganic pore forming agent, to a pyrolysis or carbonization temperature at which the crosslinked carbon source resin is converted to carbon and the organic pore forming agent is removed (e.g., by decomposition or volatilization). It is understood that the crosslinked carbon source resin may be partially or substantially fully converted to carbon with one or more other byproducts (e.g., gas(es)) being formed. The heating to the pyrolysis or carbonization temperature may be referred to as “carbonization.” Carbonization may be carried out in a controlled atmosphere comprising an inert gas, such as nitrogen, argon, helium, etc. For example, during carbonization, the cured precursor formulation may be exposed to a flow of an inert gas, such as nitrogen gas. The carbonization temperature may be least about 450°C, or at least about 650°C, and / or as high as 900°C, or as high as 850°C. The heating at the carbonization temperature may occur for a time duration from 30 minutes to 24 hours. The result is a carbonized product including the carbon obtained from the carbon source resin, the carbon powder, and the inorganic pore forming agent. The carbonized product includes pores created by the removal of the organic pore forming agent.

[0024] The carbonized product is then exposed 110 to (e.g., immersed in) an alkaline solution, which dissolves the inorganic pore forming agent. The alkaline solution may be a hot alkaline solution heated to a temperature in a range from 70°C to 110°C (e.g., 90°C). The alkaline solution may include a base such as sodium hydroxide (NaOH), ammonium hydroxide (NH4OH) or potassium hydroxide (KOH) and water. In one example, the alkaline solution comprises 10 wt.% NaOH. The carbonized product is exposed to the alkaline solution for a time sufficient to ensure dissolution of the inorganic pore forming agent (e.g., 30 minutes to 2 hours).

[0025] After the exposure to the alkaline solution, the resulting mesoporous carbon may be rinsed in water to remove the dissolved pore forming agent and the alkaline solution, and then is dried, e.g., at a temperature from about 100°C to about 140°C. However, if NH4OH in particular is employed as the base in the alkaline solution, the mesoporous carbon may not undergo rinsing after synthesis; instead, a further heat treatment may be employed to remove the dissolved pore forming agent and promote the formation of amine functional groups (-NHX) on exposed surfaces of the mesoporous carbon. In such an example, the alkaline solution used to dissolve the inorganic pore forming agent may comprise 10-20 wt.% NH4OH, and the dissolution may occur at room or ambient temperature for a suitable amount of time, such as 6-24 hours. The further heat treatment to remove the dissolved pore forming agent may including heating the mesoporous carbon to a temperature in a range from 650-800°C for a suitable amount of time, such as from 1-2 hours. These amine functional groups may be in addition to amine functional groups added in a further polyamine impregnation step, as described below.

[0026] Upon removal of the inorganic pore forming agent from the carbonized product, mesoporous carbon is formed. Some fraction of the porosity of the mesoporous carbon is created by removal of the inorganic pore forming agent, some fraction is created by removal of the organic pore forming agent, and some fraction is due to porosity inherent to the starting carbon powder. In some examples, the method may further include, after the exposure to the alkaline solution (and the subsequent rinsing and drying or the further heat treatment), activation by steam, CO2 or air to further increase the surface area and porosity of the mesoporous carbon.

[0027] After fabrication, the mesoporous carbon may be impregnated with a polyamine to form amine functional groups on the mesoporous carbon. The impregnation may entail dissolving a polyamine in a solvent (water or an organic solvent) to form an impregnation solution and exposing the mesoporous carbon to the impregnation solution (e.g., by immersion or coating). Upon drying to remove the solvent, the polyamine remains and amine functional groups are thereby incorporated onto exposed surfaces of the mesoporous carbon.

[0028] Advantageously, the formation of pores from these multiple different sources provides for a mesoporous carbon material having a particularly high total porosity.Mesoporous carbon prepared as described in this disclosure may have a porosity of at least 55% and a pore volume of at least about 0.5 ml / g. The pore volume may be at least about 1 ml / g, and / or as high as about 2 ml / g, or as high as about 1.4 ml / g, and may be calculated according to the Barrett-Joyner-Halenda (BJH) model. The porosity may be at least about 60%, and / or as high as about 75%, or as high as about 70%. As indicated above, the mesoporous carbon may have a hierarchical porous structure and / or may include a disordered arrangement of pores due to the formation of pores from multiple different sources (organic pore forming agent, inorganic pore forming agent, inherent porosity of raw materials). The mesoporous carbon may have a Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area in a range from about 580 m2 / g to 700 m2 / g; a bulk density in a range from about 0.4 g / ml to about 0.6 g / ml; and / or an apparent density in a range from about 1.2 g / ml to about 1.5 g / ml. A BJH average pore diameter may lie in a range from about 5 nm to about 12 nm, and a median pore size may be in a range from about 30 nm to about 65 nm, as determined from mercury intrusion porosimetry. Advantageously, the mesoporous carbon has sufficient mechanical integrity to serve as a robust support for an amine or other active material.

[0029] EXAMPLES

[0030] Mesoporous carbon samples were prepared as described below. Figure 2A is a schematic drawing depicting processing steps for preparing the precursor formulation. An organic pore former such as PEG was added to a mixture of DI water and methanol and stirred to dissolve, and then the carbon source resin, activated carbon powder and silica were added to the precursor solution and stirred to form the precursor formulation. FIG. 2B is a schematic drawing depicting the heat treatment procedure applied to the precursor formulation. In these examples, the solution was dried at 120°C and then cured at 150°C for 2 hours. The cured precursor formulation was then carbonized at 800°C for 1.5 hours under flowing N2. FIG. 2C is a schematic drawing depicting the alkaline dissolution procedure applied to the carbonized product to remove the inorganic pore forming material. In these examples, 10 wt.% NaOH was prepared and heated to 90°C, and the carbonized product was dispersed in the hot NaOH solution and stirred for 1 hour. The resulting mesoporous carbon was retrieved by decantation and rinsed several times to remove the dissolved inorganic pore former and the residual NaOH, followed by drying at 120°C.

[0031] The pore structure characteristics of the synthesized mesoporous carbon samples including pore fraction (porosity), pore size, pore volume and density are measured using Micromeritics Autopore IV 9520 Mercury Porosimeter (porosity and pore size) and the Micromeritics 3Flex instrument (pore volume and pore size distribution).

[0032] Materials:

[0033] Phenolic resin: GP® 510D50 from Bakelite

[0034] Silica soot: BET surface area 24.8 m2 / g, estimated primary particle size of about 110 nm (based on N6 soot sample)

[0035] Activated carbon powder: Wood based activated carbon from Asbury Carbons (Grade 5598)

[0036] Fumed silica: Aerosil® 200 from Sigma AldrichTable 1. Compositions of Exemplary Precursor Formulations

[0037] Example 1

[0038] The mesoporous carbon material was prepared according to the procedure shown in FIGS. 2A-2C. The first step was preparation of the precursor mixture. The composition of the precursor formulation (Ex-01) is shown in Table 1. The formulation was prepared bymixing 91.18 parts colloidal silica (Ludox® 34 wt.%), 73.8 parts methanol, 61.5 parts PEG, 50 parts phenolic resin and 21.5 parts activated carbon powder. After the precursor formulation was prepared, the formulation was subjected to the heat treatment procedure shown in FIG. 2B. The precursor formulation was dried at 120°C, cured at 150°C for 2 hours and then carbonized at 800°C for 1.5 hours under flowing N2. Finally, the carbonized material was treated in hot 10 wt.% NaOH to dissolve the silica, rinsed thoroughly and dried at 120°C. The mesoporous carbon sample was characterized to obtain its pore structure characteristics. The pore structure data are presented in Table 2, where the data in the right-most five columns were obtained using mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP).

[0039] Example 2

[0040] The mesoporous carbon material of Example 2 was prepared following the same procedure used in Example 1. The precursor formulation was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1, except the colloidal silica used in Example 1 was replaced with silica soot. The composition of the precursor formulation (Ex-02) is shown in Table 1. The formulation was prepared by mixing 60 parts DI water, 73.8 parts methanol, 61.5 parts PEG, 50 parts phenolic resin, 31 parts silica soot and 21.5 parts activated carbon powder. The heat treatment procedure and alkaline dissolution treatment were the same as in Example 1.

[0041] Example 3

[0042] The mesoporous carbon material of Example 3 was prepared following the same procedure used in Example 1. The precursor formulation was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1, except the colloidal silica used in Example 1 was replaced with fumed silica. The composition of the precursor formulation (Ex-03) is shown in Table 1. The formulation was prepared by mixing 180.65 parts DI water, 72.04 parts methanol, 61. 12 parts PEG, 50 parts phenolic resin, 25 parts fumed silica and 21.5 parts activated carbon powder. The heat treatment and alkaline dissolution treatment were the same as in Example 1.

[0043] Example 4

[0044] The mesoporous carbon material of Example 4 was prepared following the same procedure used in Example 1. The precursor formulation was prepared without addition of activated carbon powder. The composition of the precursor formulation (Ex-04) is shown in Table 1. The formulation was prepared by mixing 91.18 parts colloidal silica, 34.71 partsmethanol, 34.75 parts PEG, and 50 parts phenolic resin. The heat treatment and alkaline dissolution treatment were the same as in Example 1.Table 2. Pore Structure Characteristics of Mesoporous Carbon Samples

[0045] To clarify the use of and to hereby provide notice to the public, the phrases "at least one of , , . . . and <N>" or "at least one of , , ... or <N>" or "at least one of , , . . . <N>, or combinations thereof or ", , . . . and / or <N>" are defined by the Applicant in the broadest sense, superseding any other implied definitions hereinbefore or hereinafter unless expressly asserted by the Applicant to the contrary, to mean one or more elements selected from the group comprising A, B, . . . and N. In other words, the phrases mean any combination of one or more of the elements A, B, ... or N including any one element alone or the one element in combination with one or more of the other elements which may also include, in combination, additional elements not listed. Unless otherwise indicated or the context suggests otherwise, as used herein, "a" or "an" means "at least one" or "one or more."

[0046] While various embodiments have been described, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many more embodiments and implementations are possible. Accordingly, the embodiments described herein are examples, not the only possible embodiments and implementations.

[0047] In addition to the features mentioned in each of the independent aspects enumerated above, some examples may show, alone or in combination, the optional features mentioned in the dependent aspects and / or as disclosed in the description above and shown in the figures.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. A precursor formulation for preparing mesoporous carbon, the precursor formulation comprising: a mixture including: a liquid carrier; a carbon source resin; a carbon powder; an organic pore forming agent; and an inorganic pore forming agent.

2. The precursor formulation of claim 1, wherein the organic pore forming agent comprises a polymer having a decomposition temperature above a curing temperature of the carbon source resin and below a carbonization temperature of the carbon source resin.

3. The precursor formulation of claim 2, wherein the polymer is selected from the group consisting of: polyethylene glycol (PEG), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and glycerin.

4. The precursor formulation of any preceding claim, wherein the inorganic pore forming agent comprises an inorganic material dissolvable in an alkaline solution.

5. The precursor formulation of claim 4, wherein the inorganic material comprises a metal oxide selected from the group consisting of silica, alumina, and zirconia.

6. The precursor formulation of any preceding claim, wherein the carbon source resin comprises a curable polymer resin.

7. The precursor formulation of claim 6, wherein the curable polymer resin is selected from the group consisting of phenolic resin, furan resin, and epoxy resin.

8. The precursor formulation of any preceding claim, wherein the carbon powder comprises activated carbon, carbon black, carbon soot, carbon fullerene, carbon nanotubes, graphene, and / or graphite.

9. The precursor formulation of any preceding claim, wherein the mixture includes: the liquid carrier at concentration from 35 to 70 wt.%; the carbon source resin at a concentration from 10 to 30 wt.%; the carbon powder at a concentration from 5 to 8 wt.%; the organic pore forming agent at a concentration from 15 to 21 wt.%; and the inorganic pore forming agent at a concentration from 5 to 15 wt.%.

10. The precursor formulation of claim 9, wherein the liquid carrier comprises: water at a concentration from 20 to 45 wt.%; and an organic solvent at a concentration from 15 to 25 wt.%.

11. A method of making a precursor formulation for preparing mesoporous carbon, the method comprising: forming the mixture of any preceding claim, the forming comprising: dissolving the organic pore forming agent in the liquid carrier to form a precursor solution; and mixing the carbon source resin, the carbon powder, and the inorganic pore forming agent into the precursor solution.

12. A method of making mesoporous carbon, the method comprising: heating a cured precursor formulation to a carbonization temperature, the cured precursor formulation including a crosslinked carbon source resin, a carbon powder, an organic pore forming agent, and an inorganic pore forming agent, whereby the organic pore forming agent is removed and the crosslinked carbon source resin is converted to carbon, thereby forming a carbonized product; and exposing the carbonized product to an alkaline solution, whereby the inorganic pore forming agent is removed by dissolution and mesoporous carbon is formed.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising preparing the cured precursor formulation.

14. The method of claim 12 or 13, wherein preparing the cured precursor formulation comprises: mixing together a liquid carrier, a carbon source resin, the carbon powder, the organic pore forming agent, and the inorganic pore forming agent, thereby forming a precursor formulation; removing the liquid carrier from the precursor mixture, thereby forming a dried precursor formulation; heating the dried precursor formulation to a curing temperature of the carbon source resin, whereby the carbon source resin is crosslinked to form the crosslinked carbon source resin, thereby preparing the cured precursor formulation.

15. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the curing temperature is sufficient to crosslink the carbon source resin without decomposing the organic pore forming agent.

16. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the curing temperature is in a range from about 130°C to about 170°C.

17. The method of any preceding claim, further comprising, prior to removing the liquid carrier from the precursor formulation, coating the precursor formulation onto a substrate.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the substrate comprises a ceramic honeycomb substrate.

19. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the carbonization temperature is in a range from 450°C to 900°C.

20. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the alkaline solution comprises water and a base selected from the group consisting of sodium hydroxide, ammonium hydroxide, and potassium hydroxide.

21. The method of any preceding claim, further comprising, after exposing the carbonized product to the alkaline solution: rinsing the mesoporous carbon in water to remove the dissolved pore forming agent and the alkaline solution; and drying the mesoporous carbon.

22. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the alkaline solution comprises ammonium hydroxide, and further comprising, after exposing the carbonized product to the alkaline solution: heat treating the mesoporous carbon to remove the dissolved pore forming agent and form amine functional groups on the mesoporous carbon.

23. The method of any preceding claim, further comprising impregnating the mesoporous carbon with a polyamine to form amine functional groups on the mesoporous carbon.

24. The method of any preceding claim, further comprising activating the mesoporous carbon using steam, CO2 or air to further increase surface area and porosity.

25. Mesoporous carbon comprising: a porous structure including: a porosity of at least 55%; a pore volume of at least about 0.5 ml / g; and a disordered arrangement of pores.

26. The mesoporous carbon of claim 25, wherein the pore volume is in a range from about 1 ml / g to about 2 ml / g.

27. The mesoporous carbon of claim 25 or 26, wherein the porosity is in a range from about 60% to about 75%.

28. The mesoporous carbon of any preceding claim, further comprising: an average pore diameter in a range from about 5 nm to about 12 nm as determined by Barrett- Joyner-Halenda (BJH) model; and / or a median pore size in a range from about 30 nm to about 65 nm as determined by mercury infusion porosimetry (MIP).

29. The mesoporous carbon of any preceding claim, further comprising: a surface area in a range from about 580 to 700 m2 / g; a bulk density in a range from about 0.4 to about 0.6 g / ml; and / or an apparent density in a range from about 1.2 to about 1.5 g / ml.

30. The mesoporous carbon of any preceding claim, wherein the porous structure is a hierarchical porous structure.

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