Sustainable Production of Activated Carbon from Waste Wood Using Goethite Iron Ore

William Spencer, Don Ibana, Pritam Singh and Aleksandar N. Nikoloski ()
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William Spencer: Harry Butler Institute (Centre for Water Energy and Waste), College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia
Don Ibana: Harry Butler Institute (Centre for Water Energy and Waste), College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia
Pritam Singh: Harry Butler Institute (Centre for Water Energy and Waste), College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia
Aleksandar N. Nikoloski: Harry Butler Institute (Centre for Water Energy and Waste), College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 2, 1-15

Abstract: The growing demand for eco-friendly activated carbon necessitates sustainable production methods. This study investigates the conversion of waste wood into activated carbon using goethite iron ore as an activating agent. A high-temperature rotary furnace was used to activate the carbon at 1373 K. The oxygen released from the iron oxide during the heat treatment reacted with the carbon in the wood, resulting in 49% of activated carbon with BET surface areas between 684 m 2 /g and 770 m 2 /g. The activated carbon and char showed type I isotherms with micropore areas between 600 m 2 /g and 668 m 2 /g, respectively. Additionally, 92% of the iron in the ore was reduced from ferric to ferrous. The findings demonstrate that goethite iron ore is an effective activating agent for producing wood-based activated carbon while also generating metallic iron as a byproduct. This alternative activation method enhances the sustainability and efficiency of activated carbon production.

Keywords: activated carbon; sustainability; wood; goethite; iron; thermal conversion (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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