Application of Infrared Pyrolysis and Chemical Post-Activation in the Conversion of Polyethylene Terephthalate Waste into Porous Carbons for Water Purification

• DOI: 10.3390/polym16070891
• Publication Date: 2024-03-25T18:00:23Z
• Authors: Mikhail Efimov; Andrey Vasilev; Dmitriy Muratov; Alexander Panin; Maria Malozovskaya; Galina Karpacheva
• Keywords: Specific surface area; Methylene blue; Carbon fibers

In this study, we compared the conversion of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) into porous carbons for water purification using pyrolysis and post-activation with KOH. Pyrolysis was conducted at 400–850 °C, followed by KOH activation 850 °C samples pyrolyzed 400, 650, °C. Both post-activated showed high specific surface areas, up to 504.2 617.7 m2 g−1, respectively. As temperature increases, crystallite size graphite phase rises simultaneously a decrease in area. This phenomenon significantly influences final area values activated samples. Despite their relatively PET-derived prove unsuitable as adsorbents purifying aqueous media from methylene blue dye. A sample 650 exhibited maximum adsorption value only 20.4 mg g−1. We propose that have coating amorphous carbon poor oxygen groups, impeding diffusion dye molecules. Conversely, emerge promising adsorbents, exhibiting capacity 127.7 suggests potential efficient removal applications.