Plastic Waste to Carbon Adsorbent: Activation with Sodium Carbonate and Functionalization with Citric Acid
Plastic waste management is currently a challenge of great importance. The valorization of non-recyclable fractions into carbonaceous adsorbents is an interesting strategy that promotes the circular economy. In this work, a waste-to-adsorbent strategy was pursued with the char from plastic pyrolysis...
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2025-02-01
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| author | Ledicia Pereira María Ángeles Martín-Lara Guillermo Garcia-Garcia Concepción Calvo Tatiana Robledo Rafael R. Solís Mónica Calero |
| author_facet | Ledicia Pereira María Ángeles Martín-Lara Guillermo Garcia-Garcia Concepción Calvo Tatiana Robledo Rafael R. Solís Mónica Calero |
| author_sort | Ledicia Pereira |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Plastic waste management is currently a challenge of great importance. The valorization of non-recyclable fractions into carbonaceous adsorbents is an interesting strategy that promotes the circular economy. In this work, a waste-to-adsorbent strategy was pursued with the char from plastic pyrolysis. The char (non-porous, surface area ~3 m<sup>2</sup> g<sup>−1</sup>) was activated with chemical activation, with sodium carbonate boosting the textural properties (surface area ~418 m<sup>2</sup> g<sup>−1</sup>, pore volume 0.436 cm<sup>3</sup> g<sup>−1</sup>), triggering the formation of activated carbon with a large mesoporosity (71%). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and thermal programmed desorption characterization confirmed the enrichment of the surface with carboxylic groups by treatment with citric acid, with a slight loss of textural properties. The activated carbon showed an enhanced adsorption uptake of lead in water (~52 mg g<sup>−1</sup> functionalized vs. ~37 mg g<sup>−1</sup> non-functionalized) and limited influence on the adsorption of acetaminophen. The preparation costs and the consumption cost per unit of removed pollutants confirm the benefits of the activation and functionalization of the original carbonaceous precursor. However, the possible metal lixiviation from plastic additives and the environmental impact according to a life cycle assessment still make this kind of valorization strategy controversial. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-717db2d3fba141cfa33c993470a7c796 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| spelling | doaj-art-717db2d3fba141cfa33c993470a7c7962025-08-20T02:48:02ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-02-01153163410.3390/app15031634Plastic Waste to Carbon Adsorbent: Activation with Sodium Carbonate and Functionalization with Citric AcidLedicia Pereira0María Ángeles Martín-Lara1Guillermo Garcia-Garcia2Concepción Calvo3Tatiana Robledo4Rafael R. Solís5Mónica Calero6Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, SpainDepartment of Chemical Engineering, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, SpainDepartment of Chemical Engineering, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, SpainDepartment of Microbiology, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, SpainDepartment of Microbiology, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, SpainDepartment of Chemical Engineering, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, SpainDepartment of Chemical Engineering, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, SpainPlastic waste management is currently a challenge of great importance. The valorization of non-recyclable fractions into carbonaceous adsorbents is an interesting strategy that promotes the circular economy. In this work, a waste-to-adsorbent strategy was pursued with the char from plastic pyrolysis. The char (non-porous, surface area ~3 m<sup>2</sup> g<sup>−1</sup>) was activated with chemical activation, with sodium carbonate boosting the textural properties (surface area ~418 m<sup>2</sup> g<sup>−1</sup>, pore volume 0.436 cm<sup>3</sup> g<sup>−1</sup>), triggering the formation of activated carbon with a large mesoporosity (71%). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and thermal programmed desorption characterization confirmed the enrichment of the surface with carboxylic groups by treatment with citric acid, with a slight loss of textural properties. The activated carbon showed an enhanced adsorption uptake of lead in water (~52 mg g<sup>−1</sup> functionalized vs. ~37 mg g<sup>−1</sup> non-functionalized) and limited influence on the adsorption of acetaminophen. The preparation costs and the consumption cost per unit of removed pollutants confirm the benefits of the activation and functionalization of the original carbonaceous precursor. However, the possible metal lixiviation from plastic additives and the environmental impact according to a life cycle assessment still make this kind of valorization strategy controversial.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/3/1634plastic waste charactivated carbonsodium carbonate activationcitric acid modificationwater contaminant removalcharacterization |
| spellingShingle | Ledicia Pereira María Ángeles Martín-Lara Guillermo Garcia-Garcia Concepción Calvo Tatiana Robledo Rafael R. Solís Mónica Calero Plastic Waste to Carbon Adsorbent: Activation with Sodium Carbonate and Functionalization with Citric Acid Applied Sciences plastic waste char activated carbon sodium carbonate activation citric acid modification water contaminant removal characterization |
| title | Plastic Waste to Carbon Adsorbent: Activation with Sodium Carbonate and Functionalization with Citric Acid |
| title_full | Plastic Waste to Carbon Adsorbent: Activation with Sodium Carbonate and Functionalization with Citric Acid |
| title_fullStr | Plastic Waste to Carbon Adsorbent: Activation with Sodium Carbonate and Functionalization with Citric Acid |
| title_full_unstemmed | Plastic Waste to Carbon Adsorbent: Activation with Sodium Carbonate and Functionalization with Citric Acid |
| title_short | Plastic Waste to Carbon Adsorbent: Activation with Sodium Carbonate and Functionalization with Citric Acid |
| title_sort | plastic waste to carbon adsorbent activation with sodium carbonate and functionalization with citric acid |
| topic | plastic waste char activated carbon sodium carbonate activation citric acid modification water contaminant removal characterization |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/3/1634 |
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