Development of Nanoporosity on a Biomass Combustion Ash-derived Carbon for CO2 Adsorption

Carbonaceous adsorbents are one of the most widely-used materials used for the removal of chemical species in gaseous and aqueous media. However, the route from precursor to activated carbon is riddled with myriad techniques and steps, that entail additional costs. Such expenses could be minimized via waste valorization e.g. biomass combustion bottom ash which has been used in this work. In order to develop surface nanoporosity, the waste-derived carbon was thermally treated, increasing the CO2 adsorption capacity by nearly twofold and thus, producing a cost-effective sorbent for post-combustion CO2 capture. The effectiveness of such “unconventional” activation route has been verified using Scanning Electron Microscopy, Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy as well as Proximate Analysis and the CO2 adsorption data obtained via Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA). The proposed material and method could serve as a viable alternative to the current methods for decarbonization of the UK power sector through in-situ waste valorization.