Production of High Specific Surface Area Activated Carbon from Tangerine Peels and Utilization of Its By-Products

Da-Jung Kang, Kyung-Woo Kim, Bum-Ui Hong and Jung-Eun Park ()
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Da-Jung Kang: Center of Bioresource, Institute for Advanced Engineering, Yongin 175-28, Republic of Korea
Kyung-Woo Kim: Center of Bioresource, Institute for Advanced Engineering, Yongin 175-28, Republic of Korea
Bum-Ui Hong: Center of Bioresource, Institute for Advanced Engineering, Yongin 175-28, Republic of Korea
Jung-Eun Park: Center of Bioresource, Institute for Advanced Engineering, Yongin 175-28, Republic of Korea

Energies, 2024, vol. 17, issue 23, 1-15

Abstract: Biomass waste, generated globally in vast quantities, represents an underutilized yet highly valuable resource for advanced material production. This study highlights a novel valorization pathway for waste tangerine peels, sourced from Jeju Island, South Korea, by converting them into high-performance activated carbon (T-AC) with exceptional pore characteristics, specifically designed for volatile organic compound (VOC) removal. Utilizing a unique combination of hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) and dry carbonization (DC) processes, the structural properties of the biomass were optimized, significantly enhancing the fixed carbon content. Subsequent chemical activation with an alkaline agent yielded T-AC with an outstanding specific surface area (1530–3375 m 2 /g) and total pore volume (0.73–2.00 cm 3 /g), with a tailored pore distribution favoring the sub-mesopore range (2.0–4.0 nm). The T-AC demonstrated remarkable performance in removing methylene chloride (MC), a hazardous VOC, with methylene chloride activity (MA) increasing from 44.7% to 76.3% as the activation agent ratio increased, while methylene chloride working capacity (MWC) improved significantly from 17.1% to 55.9%. These results underscore the transformative potential of tangerine peel-derived AC as a sustainable solution for VOC remediation, combining environmental waste management with advanced adsorption technology. The findings not only advance the field of biomass utilization but also offer a scalable approach for tackling pressing environmental and industrial challenges.

Keywords: waste tangerine peel; activated carbon; high specific surface area; methylene chloride (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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