Abstract
Herein activated carbon (AC) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were synthesized from potato peel waste (PPW). Different ACs were synthesized via two activation steps; firstly, with phosphoric acid (designated PP) and then using potassium hydroxide (designated PK). The AC produced after the two activation steps showed a surface area as high as 833 m2.g-1 with a pore volume of 0.44 cm3.g-1, where the raw material of PPW showed a surface area < 4 m2.g-1. This can help aid and facilitate the concept of the circular economy by effectively up-cycling and valorizing waste lignocellulosic biomass such as potato peel waste to high surface area AC and subsequently, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). Consequently, MWCNTs were prepared from the produced AC by mixing it with the nitrogen-based material melamine and iron precursor, iron (III) oxalate hexahydrate. This produced hydrophilic multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) with a water contact angle of θ = 14.97º. Both AC and CNT materials were used in heavy metal removal (HMR) where the maximum lead absorption was observed for sample PK with 84% removal capacity after the first hour of testing. This result signifies that the synthesis of these up-cycled materials can have application in areas such as wastewater treatment or other conventional AC/CNT end uses with a rapid cycle time. In a two-fold approach to improving the eco-friendliness synthesis of such value-added products and the circular economy from a significant waste stream, i.e. PPW.
Original language | English |
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Number of pages | 14 |
Journal | Environmental Science and Pollution Research |
Early online date | 20 Nov 2019 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Early online date - 20 Nov 2019 |
Keywords
- Potato peel waste
- Activated carbon
- Carbon nanotube
- multi-wall carbon nanotubes
- pyrolysis