No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

reactivation efficiency of AC. The recovery of AC with improved properties and the desirable process features (fast heating rate, short process time) suggest the great potential of this method as an alternative for the treatment and recovery of fruit peel.

No abstract

No abstract

Microwave pyrolysis combined with steam activation was performed to convert palm kernel shells into activated carbon (AC), which was then tested as an adsorbent to remove herbicide (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic, termed "2,4-D") contaminating the surface water in agricultural land. The pyrolysis generated 83 wt % yield of AC containing high carbon content, low moisture content (∼5 wt %), and a microporous structure with high surface area (419 m 2 /g), indicating the availability of many adsorption sites for use as an adsorbent. Microwave power and activation time influenced the yield and composition of the AC formed. The AC recorded an adsorption efficiency of up to 11 mg of 2,4-D/g of AC. Our results demonstrate that this pyrolysis approach shows exceptional promise as a means for producing AC for removing herbicides in agricultural land.

Dwindling fossil fuels and improper waste management are major challenges in the context of increasing population and industrialization, calling for new waste-to-energy sources. For instance, refuse-derived fuels can be produced from transformation of municipal solid waste, which is forecasted to reach 2.6 billion metric tonnes in 2030. Gasification is a thermalinduced chemical reaction that produces gaseous fuel such as hydrogen and syngas. Here, we review refuse-derived fuel gasification with focus on practices in various countries, recent progress in gasification, gasification modelling and economic analysis. We found that some countries that replace coal by refuse-derived fuel reduce CO 2 emission by 40%, and decrease the amount municipal solid waste being sent to landfill by more than 50%. The production cost of energy via refuse-derived fuel gasification is estimated at 0.05 USD/kWh. Co-gasification by using two feedstocks appears more beneficial over conventional gasification in terms of minimum tar formation and improved process efficiency.