In-situ catalytic fast pyrolysis of reed as a sustainable method for production of porous carbon as VOCs adsorbents

In this work, preparation of carbon adsorbents for recovery of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by in-situ catalytic fast pyrolysis was investigated. Less emission of carbon gases, less consumption of energy and being fast and facile make the process as a green and sustainable method for production of the carbon adsorbents. Carbon nanostructures were prepared by fast pyrolysis of NiCl2 impregnated reed at 600 degrees C. The porosity of the carbon product was improved by ZnCl2 post activation. Moreover, a highly porous carbon was synthesized by fast pyrolysis of the reed contained NiCl2 and ZnCl2 at 600 degrees C. The carbon products were studied by different analysis methods including FE-SEM, TEM, Raman and FT-IR spectroscopy, BET and TGA. Also, the biogas and the bio-oils obtained as by-products were characterized using GC and GC-Mass instruments. FE-SEM and TEM images showed that the biochar obtained from fast pyrolysis of NiCl2 impregnated reed is a hybrid of carbon nanofibers and graphene (CNFs/G). By post-activation of the CNFs/ G hybrid using ZnCl2, the specific surface area was increased from 34.58 m(2)/g to 105.68 m(2)/g. However, by in-situ activation process using NiCl2 and ZnCl2, a product with a specific surface area of 1544.5 m(2)/g was produced. Adsorption/ desorption of VOCs on the commercial activated carbon and also the post activated CNFs/G hybrid and the in-situ activated product were (122.8/ 74.49), (64.5/ 63.1) and (643.6/ 428.1) mg/gadsorbent, respectively. GC-mass analysis of the bio-oils revealed that they contained invaluable chemicals including furfural (30.63-56.22%wt.) and acetic acid (35.51-51.44%wt.).

Automated summary

In this study, carbon adsorbents for the recovery of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were prepared through in-situ catalytic fast pyrolysis. The process has the advantages of reduced carbon gas emissions, lower energy consumption, and being fast and facile. The carbon products were characterized using various analysis methods, and the by-products were analyzed using GC and GC-Mass instruments.