Azolla-derived hierarchical nanoporous carbons: From environmental concerns to industrial opportunities

•Nanoporous carbon with surface area of ∼2700 m2 g−1 from a very high growth rate biomass, azolla.•The obtained nanoporous carbon powders revealed high graphitization degree (ID/IG: 0.75).•Extraordinary methylene blue adsorption capacity of about 4448 mg g−1.•CO2 uptake of the prepared carbons is ab...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of the Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers 2018-10, Vol.91, p.281-290
Main Authors: Banna Motejadded Emrooz, Hosein, Maleki, Mahdi, Rahmani, Alireza
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Azolla biomass
CO2 capture
Methylene blue adsorption
Nanoporous carbon
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Summary:•Nanoporous carbon with surface area of ∼2700 m2 g−1 from a very high growth rate biomass, azolla.•The obtained nanoporous carbon powders revealed high graphitization degree (ID/IG: 0.75).•Extraordinary methylene blue adsorption capacity of about 4448 mg g−1.•CO2 uptake of the prepared carbons is about 7.18 mmol g−1 at 1 bar. Azolla biomass as a very fast growing fern was utilized to prepare hierarchically nanoporous activated carbons with high surface area and crystallinity. As-prepared activated carbons were characterized using powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), Raman, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), N2 sorption, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM). XRD and FTIR results confirmed that CaCO3 which is naturally present in azolla biomass is responsible for crystallinity of the final materials and in collaboration with NaOH as activation agent led to high surface area nanoporous carbons. Activation process increased the specific surface area of the initial char from about 3 m2 g−1 to 2680 m2 g−1. Large ordered atomic layers domains of carbon were observed in HR-TEM. CO2 adsorption capacity was investigated for the azolla-derived carbons which proved the high room temperature capture ability of near 7.18 mmol g−1 at 1 bar and 12.5 mmol g−1 at 20 bar. More significantly, extraordinary capacity of methylene blue uptake by about 4448 mg g−1 has been observed in azolla-derived porous carbon which is the highest ever reported for water cleaning. [Display omitted]
ISSN:1876-1070
1876-1089
DOI:10.1016/j.jtice.2018.05.027