Sustainable hybrid activated carbon derived from food waste and scrap tire for synergistic CO2 and NOx adsorption

Authors

  • Hammad Hassan Institute of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
  • Rakhshanda Ashraf Institute of Polymer & Textile Engineering, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
  • Hafiz Muhammad Anas Institute of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
  • Aqeel Afzal Institute of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
  • Tausif Ahmad Institute of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
  • Zaeem Babar Institute of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54693/piche.05328

Abstract

Worldwide, food and tires waste (a substantial fraction of municipal solid waste) are dramatically increasing due to population growth and economic development, mostly in developing countries. In current research, food and tire waste material were validated in the flow tube furnace to synthesize biochar, then resulting biochar was subsequently subjected to chemical activation using Ferrous Ammonium Sulfate Hexahydrate ((NH4)2Fe(SO4)2·6H2O). Activation was carried out at different biochar and activating agent ratios (1:0.5, 1:1, 1:1.5, 1:2) and pyrolysis temperatures (500℃, 600℃, 700℃, and 800℃) to prepared activated carbon. As illustrated by the proposed reaction pathways, that carboxyl group and hydroxyl group on the surface of biochar play a key role in interacting with Fe+2 ions released from activating agents. The activated carbon was evaluated for CO2 and NOx adsorption under ambient conditions (25±2℃ & 1 atm), typical of coal-fired flue gas. Analysis demonstrated highest removal efficiencies of CO2 and NOx was observed to be 93% (282 mg g-1) and 90% (1.16 mg g-1), respectively, achieved at the activation temperature of 500℃ after 120 minutes of treatment. Functional groups identify by FTIR including C=O, O-H and N-H contributing to CO2 and NOx adsorption from flue gases. SEM revealed a rough, well developed porous surface with interconnected fine particles, produced cavities to adsorb CO2 and NOx. This study reveals that activated carbon derived from food waste and scrap tires is effective for removing CO2 and NOx gases released from coal combustion.

Published

2026-04-10

How to Cite

Hassan, H., Ashraf, R., Anas, H. M., Afzal, A., Ahmad, T., & Babar, Z. (2026). Sustainable hybrid activated carbon derived from food waste and scrap tire for synergistic CO2 and NOx adsorption. Journal of the Pakistan Institute of Chemical Engineers, 53(2). https://doi.org/10.54693/piche.05328

Issue

Vol. 53 No. 2 (2025): Journal of the Pakistan Institute of Chemical Engineers

Section

Articles

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