Waste-derived activated carbons for control of nitrogen oxides

Abstract

Activated carbons were produced from waste and investigated for their efficiency for the removal of mono-nitrogen oxides (NO x ) in simulated flue gases at a low temperature. The wastes used were waste biomass (date seeds), processed municipal solid waste in the form of refuse-derived fuel and waste tyres. The morphology, porous texture and surface chemistry of the prepared activated carbons were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy, energydispersive X-ray spectrometry, nitrogen adsorption and Boehm titration, and were compared with several commercial activated carbons. The carbons were then investigated in terms of their use in adsorbing NO x at a low temperature.The waste-derived activated carbons had NO x adsorption efficiencies at 50°C which were between 50 and 70% of those achieved for the commercial activated carbons. Increasing the adsorption temperature from 25 to 100°C significantly reduced nitrogen oxide (NO) adsorption. It was also shown that the NO adsorption efficiency depends on the porous structure, particularly the presence of micropores in the activated carbon, but to a lesser extent on the surface area of the carbons and acid-base surface groups on the carbon surface.

Catalytic Reduction of Nitric Oxide with Hydrogen Using Carbon-Supported d-Metal Catalysts

“…The elemental compositions of the catalysts are summarized in Table 2. PKS exhibits a high carbon content (82%), comparable with commercial activated carbons [29]. After metal impregnation the C:H ratio significantly increased suggesting that the presence of the metal catalyses the carbonisation of the PKS.…”

Non-woven fabric activated carbon produced from fibrous waste biomass for sulphur dioxide control

“…Biomass waste in the form of agricultural waste materials have been extensively investigated as precursors for the production of activated carbons (Yahya et al, 2015, Koseoglu andAkmil-Basar, 2015;Ioannidou and Zabaniotou, 2007). For example, cotton stalks (Nahil and Williams, 2012) date stones (Al-Rahbi et al, 2016), coconut shell (Hu and Srinivasan, 1999) palm shell (Daud et al, 2000) rice bran (Suzuki et al, 2007), corn cobs (El-Hendawy et al, 2001) rice husks (Yalcin and Sevine, 2000) etc.…”

“…The adsorptive properties of such waste derived activated carbons have been utilised as pollution control materials for control of polluting gases. For example, Al-Rahbi et al (2016) used waste biomass in the form of date stones to produce activated carbons for the low temperature (50 °C) control of NOx. They reported that the biomass derived activated carbon had similar removal efficiencies for NOx as for commercially available activated carbons and that the micropore structure of the carbon significantly influences removal efficiency.…”