US Patent 10087330 Mesoporous carbon black and processes for making same

The invention is directed to processes for increasing the surface area of a carbon black starting material and for forming mesoporous carbon black. The process includes the step of contacting a carbon black starting material having a first BET nitrogen surface area with an oxidant in a fluidized bed under conditions effective to form a carbon black product having a second BET nitrogen surface area greater than the first BET nitrogen surface area. The invention is also directed to carbon black product formed by this process.