NaOH solution-assisted pyrolysis of waste polycarbonate for co-production of phenolic compounds and supercapacitor material

A green way for the sustainable utilization of waste polycarbonate (PC) was developed, i.e., NaOH solution-assisted pyrolysis to co-produce phenolic compounds and supercapacitor material. A lab-scale setup was employed for the pyrolysis of PC to explore the regulation effects of NaOH concentration and pyrolytic temperature on the production of phenol and 4-isopropenylphenol (IPP). The yields of phenol and IPP were up to 35.3 wt% and 29.9 wt% at 600 degrees C and NaOH concentration of 0.5 mol/L, which were much higher than those from pure PC pyrolysis (7.2 wt% and 3.6 wt%). Furthermore, the pyrolytic solid residue was directly subjected to the high-temperature activation to prepare activated carbon, which could be used as a supercapacitor material with an outstanding specific gravimetric capacitance of 182.1 F/g at 1 A/g.

Automated summary

A green method for the sustainable utilization of waste polycarbonate (PC) was developed, involving NaOH solution-assisted pyrolysis to produce phenolic compounds and supercapacitor material. By adjusting NaOH concentration and pyrolytic temperature, the yields of phenol and 4-isopropenylphenol (IPP) reached up to 35.3 wt% and 29.9 wt% respectively at 600 degrees C and NaOH concentration of 0.5 mol/L, significantly higher than those from pure PC pyrolysis. Additionally, the pyrolytic solid residue could be directly activated at high temperature to prepare activated carbon, which exhibited an outstanding specific gravimetric capacitance of 182.1 F/g at 1 A/g.