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Activated Carbons Produced from Hydrothermally Carbonized Prickly Pear Seed Waste

Author

Listed:
  • Nourhen Hsini

    (Environmental Chemistry and Clean Processes Research Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences of Monastir, University of Monastir, Monastir 5000, Tunisia)

  • Vahid Saadattalab

    (Arrhenius Laboratory, Department of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, Stockholm University, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden)

  • Xia Wang

    (Arrhenius Laboratory, Department of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, Stockholm University, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden)

  • Nawres Gharred

    (Environmental Chemistry and Clean Processes Research Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences of Monastir, University of Monastir, Monastir 5000, Tunisia)

  • Hatem Dhaouadi

    (Environmental Chemistry and Clean Processes Research Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences of Monastir, University of Monastir, Monastir 5000, Tunisia)

  • Sonia Dridi-Dhaouadi

    (Environmental Chemistry and Clean Processes Research Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences of Monastir, University of Monastir, Monastir 5000, Tunisia
    Preparatory Institute for Engineering Studies of Monastir, University of Monastir, Monastir 5000, Tunisia)

  • Niklas Hedin

    (Arrhenius Laboratory, Department of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, Stockholm University, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden)

Abstract

The agro-sector generates organic waste of various kinds, which potentially could be used to prepare functional materials, lessen environmental problems, and enhance circularity. In this context, the hypothesis that was put forward in this work is that prickly pear seed waste from the Tunisian agro-food industry could be used to prepare activated carbons. The prickly pear seed waste was first hydrothermally carbonized and the resulting hydrochar was activated in CO 2 at 800 °C. The yield of the hydrothermal carbonization process is of importance, and it was the highest at intermediate dwell times and temperatures, which was ascribed to the re-precipitation of hydrochar particles on the heat-treated biomass. The hydrochars and activated carbons were characterized with scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetry, Raman spectroscopy, and N 2 and CO 2 adsorption/desorption analyses. The activated carbons had micro- (<2 nm) and mesopores (2–50 nm), and specific surface areas and total pore volumes of about 400 m 2 −1 and 0.21 cm 3 g −1 . The study showed that the prickly pear seed waste could be effectively transformed into both hydrochars and activated carbons and that is advisable to optimize the hydrothermal process for the mass yield. A life cycle analysis was performed to assess the environmental impact of the production of typical activated carbons using the approach of this study. Further studies could be focused on enhancing the properties of the activated carbons by further optimization of the activation process.

Suggested Citation

  • Nourhen Hsini & Vahid Saadattalab & Xia Wang & Nawres Gharred & Hatem Dhaouadi & Sonia Dridi-Dhaouadi & Niklas Hedin, 2022. "Activated Carbons Produced from Hydrothermally Carbonized Prickly Pear Seed Waste," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-17, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:21:p:14559-:d:964467
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kang, Kang & Nanda, Sonil & Sun, Guotao & Qiu, Ling & Gu, Yongqing & Zhang, Tianle & Zhu, Mingqiang & Sun, Runcang, 2019. "Microwave-assisted hydrothermal carbonization of corn stalk for solid biofuel production: Optimization of process parameters and characterization of hydrochar," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 186(C).
    2. Manfredi Picciotto Maniscalco & Maurizio Volpe & Antonio Messineo, 2020. "Hydrothermal Carbonization as a Valuable Tool for Energy and Environmental Applications: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-26, August.
    3. Amira Alazmi & Sabina A. Nicolae & Pierpaolo Modugno & Bashir E. Hasanov & Maria M. Titirici & Pedro M. F. J. Costa, 2021. "Activated Carbon from Palm Date Seeds for CO 2 Capture," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-11, November.
    4. Hao, Wenming & Björkman, Eva & Lilliestråle, Malte & Hedin, Niklas, 2013. "Activated carbons prepared from hydrothermally carbonized waste biomass used as adsorbents for CO2," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 526-532.
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