0000000000600482
AUTHOR
Henrik Romar
Ibuprofen degradation using a Co-doped carbon matrix derived from peat as a peroxymonosulphate activator
The wider presence of pharmaceuticals and personal care products in nature is a major cause for concern in society. Among pharmaceuticals, the anti-inflammatory drug ibuprofen has commonly been found in aquatic and soil environments. We produced a Co-doped carbon matrix (Co-P 850) through the carbonization of Co2+ saturated peat and used it as a peroxymonosulphate activator to aid ibuprofen degradation. The properties of Co-P 850 were analysed using field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy filtered transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The characterization results showed that Co/Fe oxides were generated and tightly embedded into the carbon matrix …
Removal of total organic carbon from peat solution by hybrid method : electrocoagulation combined with adsorption
Humic substances end up in water from the drainage basin causing eutrophication and the spread of algae. These natural organic substances have an influence on the physical, chemical and biological properties of the water system. Adsorption and electrocoagulation (EC) are commonly used purification methods in the water and wastewater treatment. Both methods are used by themselves for removing a wide range of impurities. In this research, the novelty was to study the effect of combined activated carbon (AC) adsorption and electrocoagulation method on the removal of organic substances as total organic carbon (TOC) from the peat solution. With the hybrid method, TOC content was efficiently remo…
Study of Ni, Pt, and Ru Catalysts on Wood-based Activated Carbon Supports and their Activity in Furfural Conversion to 2-Methylfuran
Bio‐based chemicals can be produced from furfural through hydrotreatment. In this study, 2‐methylfuran (MF), a potential biofuel component, was produced with Pt, Ru, and Ni catalysts supported on wood‐based activated carbons. The catalytic hydrotreatment experiments were conducted in a batch reactor at 210–240 °C with 2‐propanol as solvent and 40 bar H2 pressure. Two types of activated carbon supports were prepared by carbonization and activation of lignocellulosic biomass (forest‐residue‐based birch and spruce from Finland). Both types of activated carbons were suitable as catalyst supports, giving up to 100 % furfural conversions. The most important factors affecting the MF yield were the…
Carbons from second generation biomass as sustainable supports for catalytic systems
In this study activated carbons were produced from the wood of three different wood species (pine, birch, spruce). The resulting activated carbons were characterized in bulk for ash content, carbon content (elemental analyses), specific surface area, and pore size distribution, and at the surface by measuring the autogenerated pH and studying their structure by XPS. All the samples presented high surface areas and appeared to be mesoporous materials (mesopores >80%). The carbons were then used as support for AuPt nanoparticles and tested in the liquid phase oxidation of glycerol (GLY) and in the hydrogenation of levulinic acid (LA), two important chemicals from cellulose-based biomass. The …
The use of calcined paper mill sludge as a chemical precipitant in the simultaneous removal of ammonium and phosphate : paper mill waste recycling and reuse
Currently, recycling and re-use of materials is extremely important due to the diminishing of natural resources. The objective of the European Union’s circular economy strategy is to increase recycling and the use of industrial waste materials and side streams as secondary raw materials. In this study, a chemical precipitation method to simultaneously remove ammonium nitrogen and phosphate from the liquid phase of anaerobic digestate using calcined paper mill sludge was studied. Papermill sludge is a waste material that forms in the paper-making process. In addition, commercial calcium oxide (CaO) was used as a reference precipitant. The suitability of the formed precipitate’s composition f…
Activated Carbon from Renewable Sources: Thermochemical Conversion and Activation of Biomass and Carbon Residues from Biomass Gasification
Activated carbon is one of the most widely applied adsorbent. As a porous carbon, it is used for the purification of both gaseous and liquid emissions. Activated carbon is prepared from fossil resources, such as coal, or from biomass through (hydro)thermal processing followed by chemical and/or physical activation. Further, some biomass thermal treatment processes, such as biomass gasification, produce carbon residues that can be modified to activated carbon with physical or chemical activation methods. The desired properties of activated carbon, i.e. high specific surface area and porosity, high carbon content and excellent sorption capacity, can be modified and optimized during thermochem…
Lignin-based activated carbon-supported metal oxide catalysts in lactic acid production from glucose
Abstract In this study, heterogeneous biomass-based activated carbon-supported metal oxide catalysts were prepared and tested for lactic acid production from glucose in aqueous solution. Activated carbons were produced from hydrolysis lignin by chemical (ZnCl2) or steam activation and modified with a nitric acid treatment and Sn, Al, and Cr chlorides to obtain carbon-based metal oxide catalysts. The modification of the carbon support by nitric acid treatment together with Sn and Al oxides led to an increase in lactic acid yield. The highest lactic acid yield (42 %) was obtained after 20 min at 180 °C with the Sn/Al (5/2.5 wt.%) catalyst on steam-activated carbon treated by nitric acid. Reus…
Bisphenol A removal from water by biomass-based carbon: isotherms, kinetics and thermodynamics studies
Biomass-based carbon was modified and used as an efficient bisphenol A (BPA) sorbent. The simple and environmentally friendly modification method produced sorbent with a capacity of 41.5 mg/g. The ...
Conversion of furfural to 2-methylfuran over CuNi catalysts supported on biobased carbon foams
In this study, carbon foams prepared from the by-products of the Finnish forest industry, such as tannic acid and pine bark extracts, were examined as supports for 5/5% Cu/Ni catalysts in the hydrotreatment of furfural to 2-methylfuran (MF). Experiments were conducted in a batch reactor at 503 K and 40 bar H2. Prior to metal impregnation, the carbon foam from tannic acid was activated with steam (S1), and the carbon foam from pine bark extracts was activated with ZnCl2 (S2) and washed with acids (HNO3 or H2SO4). For comparison, a spruce-based activated carbon (AC) catalyst and two commercial AC catalysts as references were investigated. Compressive strength of the foam S2 was 30 times great…
Activated Carbon Production from Peat Using ZnCl2 : Characterization and Applications
The process for producing activated carbon from peat was optimized. The peat was impregnated with different ratios of ZnCl2, and the impregnated biomass was activated at different temperatures. The specific surface area, pore size distribution, total carbon content, and yield of the activated carbon were investigated. The best results for the specific surface area and mesoporosity of the activated peat were obtained by using a high impregnation ratio (2) and high activation temperature (1073 K). Highly porous activated carbon was produced that had a specific surface area of approximately 1000 m2/g and total pore volume that was higher than 0.5 cm3/g for most samples. The activated carbon ha…
Carbons from second generation biomass as sustainable supports for catalytic systems
Abstract In this study activated carbons were produced from the wood of three different wood species (pine, birch, spruce). The resulting activated carbons were characterized in bulk for ash content, carbon content (elemental analyses), specific surface area, and pore size distribution, and at the surface by measuring the autogenerated pH and studying their structure by XPS. All the samples presented high surface areas and appeared to be mesoporous materials (mesopores >80%). The carbons were then used as support for AuPt nanoparticles and tested in the liquid phase oxidation of glycerol (GLY) and in the hydrogenation of levulinic acid (LA), two important chemicals from cellulose-based biom…
Activated carbon from hydrolysis lignin: Effect of activation method on carbon properties
This study presents the effects of different activation methods to produce activated carbon from the hydrolysis lignin. Pretreatment of the feedstock with common mineral acids (HCL, HNO3, and H3PO4), different steam rates for physical activation, and different chemical activating agents (ZnCl2, Na2CO3, and KOH) for chemical activation were investigated. The pretreated biomass was carbonized and activated in one-stage process and the surface characteristics, such as total pore volume, pore size distribution and specific surface area, were investigated. The results showed that the activated carbon surface properties were not greatly affected by acid pretreatment. Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) …
Catalytic conversion of glucose to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural over biomass-based activated carbon catalyst
Selective and efficient dehydration of glucose to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) has been widely explored research problem recently, especially from the perspective of more sustainable heterogeneous catalysts. In this study, activated carbon was first produced from a lignocellulosic waste material, birch sawdust. Novel heterogeneous catalysts were then prepared from activated carbon by adding Lewis or Brønsted acid sites on the carbon surface. Prepared catalysts were used to convert glucose to HMF in biphasic water:THF system at 160 °C. The highest HMF yield and selectivity, 51% and 78%, respectively, were obtained in 8 h with a catalytic mixture containing both Lewis and Brønsted acid sites…
Biomass-based composite catalysts for catalytic wet peroxide oxidation of bisphenol A : preparation and characterization studies
Abstract The wet granulation process was used to prepare new, efficient, and cost-effective granular biomass-based composite catalysts for catalytic wet peroxide oxidation (CWPO) of bisphenol A (BPA). The most stable composite granules was prepared by mixing biomass-based carbon residue (CR) with metakaolin (MK) combined with calcium oxide (CaO) or cement and a solvent (NaOH or KOH). For all the prepared composite granules, the optimized binding agents to carbon ratio was 0.3, the solvent to carbon ratio 1.2, and the agitation rate 1200 rpm. The specific surface area of the prepared catalysts was 152–205 m2/g. The composite granular catalyst (CR + MK + CaO + NaOH) had the most durable and s…
The use of industrial waste materials for the simultaneous removal of ammonium nitrogen and phosphate from the anaerobic digestion reject water
The European Union’s circular economy strategy aims to increase the recycling and re-use of products and waste materials. According to the strategy, the use of industry waste materials and side flows is required to be more effective. In this research, a chemical precipitation method to simultaneously remove ammonium and phosphate from the reject water of anaerobic digestion plant using calcined paper mill sludge and fly ash as a precipitant, was tested. Paper mill sludge is a waste material formed in the paper-making process, and fly ash is another waste material formed in the power plant. Objective of this research was to test whether these industrial waste streams could be used as low cos…
Catalytic effect of transition metals (copper, iron, and nickel) on the foaming and properties of sugar-based carbon foams
Abstract Recently, bio-based carbon foams have gained much interest in many chemical industry fields because of their unique structure and properties. This study provides new information on the effects of catalytic metals (iron, nickel, and copper) on the foaming process. Specifically, the effects of these catalysts on the density, foam growth, and cell size and then further on the pore size distribution and specific surface areas after the physical activation are considered. Furthermore, some of the activated sugar foams were used in adsorption tests using methylene blue as adsorbent. Results showed that the highest effect on foam density was obtained using the iron catalyst in the foaming…
The Use of Ca- and Mg-Rich Fly Ash as a Chemical Precipitant in the Simultaneous Removal of Nitrogen and Phosphorus - Recycling and Reuse
The European Union’s circular economy strategy aims to increase the recycling and re-use of products and waste materials. According to the strategy, the use of industry waste material should be more effective. A chemical precipitation method to simultaneously remove phosphorus and nitrogen from synthetic (NH4)2HPO4 solution and the liquid phase of anaerobic digestate using fly ash as a precipitant was tested. Fly ash is a waste material formed in the power plant process. It mainly contains calcium oxide (CaO) and magnesium oxide (MgO). Saturated precipitant solution was prepared from fly ash, which was added in small proportions to (NH4)2HPO4 solution during the experiment. Fly ash’s effect…
From Norway Spruce Bark to Carbon Foams : Characterization, and Applications
Fresh bark from spruce Picea abies was milled and extracted with hot water. The extracts were purified in a number of steps in order to get tannin-extracts pure enough to prepare tannin-based carbon foams. The chemical composition of the extracts were analyzed. The foams were maturated and thermally treated to obtain desired properties, such as specific surface area, porosity, and compressive strength. It was possible to produce carbon foams even if they contained carbohydrate impurities. Differences in the properties of the carbon foams such as compressive strength, specific surface areas, and pore size distributions might be related to the compositions of the extracts. The foams were fina…
H2-TPR, XPS and TEM Study of the Reduction of Ru and Re promoted Co/γ-Al2O3, Co/TiO2 and Co/SiC Catalysts
<p class="1Body">Effects of Ru and Re promoters on Co-CoO<sub>x </sub>catalysts supported on γ-Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>, TiO<sub>2</sub> and SiC were investigated to improve the understanding of the role of promoters of the active phase of Co-CoO<sub>x</sub>-Ru and Co-CoO<sub>x</sub>-Re. The influence of promoter addition on the composition and activity of the catalysts was characterized by several methods, such as H<sub>2</sub>-TPR, XPS, chemisorption and TEM. Furthermore, the role of support and metal-support interaction was especially studied and different support materials were compared.</p&g…
Comparison of the Properties of Activated Carbons Produced in One-Stage and Two-Stage Processes
Activated carbons (ACs) can be produced from biomass in a thermal process either in a direct carbonization-activation process or by first carbonizing the biomass and later activating the bio-chars into activated carbons. The properties of the ACs are dependent on the type of process used for production. In this study, the properties of activated carbons produced in one-stage and two-stage processes are considered. Activated carbons were produced by physical activation of two types of starting materials: bio chars produced from spruce and birch chips in a commercial carbonization plant and from the corresponding raw chips. The activated carbons produced were characterized regarding specific …
Biomass-based composite catalysts for catalytic wet peroxide oxidation of bisphenol A:preparation and characterization studies
The wet granulation process was used to prepare new, efficient, and cost-effective granular biomass-based composite catalysts for catalytic wet peroxide oxidation (CWPO) of bisphenol A (BPA). The most stable composite granules was prepared by mixing biomass-based carbon residue (CR) with metakaolin (MK) combined with calcium oxide (CaO) or cement and a solvent (NaOH or KOH). For all the prepared composite granules, the optimized binding agents to carbon ratio was 0.3, the solvent to carbon ratio 1.2, and the agitation rate 1200 rpm. The specific surface area of the prepared catalysts was 152–205 m2/g. The composite granular catalyst (CR + MK + CaO + NaOH) had the most durable and stable str…
Bisphenol A removal from water by biomass-based carbon : Isotherms, kinetics and thermodynamics studies
Biomass-based carbon was modified and used as an efficient bisphenol A (BPA) sorbent. The simple and environmentally friendly modification method produced sorbent with a capacity of 41.5 mg/g. The raw material was modified with FeCl3 (Fe-CR), treated with hydrochloric acid (H-CR) or modified with CaCl2 (Ca-CR). Batch sorption experiments were performed to evaluate the effects of the initial pH, sorbent dosage, temperature, and contact time on BPA removal. BPA removal with modified carbons was notably higher than that with unmodified carbon. All sorbent materials exhibited very high sorption capacities and compared favourably to materials reported in the literature. Several isotherms were ap…
Removal of total organic carbon from peat solution by hybrid method—Electrocoagulation combined with adsorption
Abstract Humic substances end up in water from the drainage basin causing eutrophication and the spread of algae. These natural organic substances have an influence on the physical, chemical and biological properties of the water system. Adsorption and electrocoagulation (EC) are commonly used purification methods in the water and wastewater treatment. Both methods are used by themselves for removing a wide range of impurities. In this research, the novelty was to study the effect of combined activated carbon (AC) adsorption and electrocoagulation method on the removal of organic substances as total organic carbon (TOC) from the peat solution. With the hybrid method, TOC content was efficie…
Zinc Adsorption by Activated Carbon Prepared from Lignocellulosic Waste Biomass
Sawdust was used as a precursor for the production of biomass-based activated carbon. Carbonization and activation are single-stage processes, and steam was used as a physical activation agent at 800 °
Physical activation and characterization of tannin-based foams enforced with boric acid and zinc chloride
In this study, tannin-furanic-based foams enforced with H3BO3 and ZnCl2 are investigated, as well as their properties such as mechanical strength, specific surface area, and pore size distribution. From an industrial point of view, the aforementioned properties of these foams play a key role when used as catalyst, adsorbent, or gas storing materials. Therefore, this study aims to prove that such enforced tannin-furanic foams are promising materials for these types of applications. According to the results, materials that are up to five times stronger can be achieved by carbonizing the foams in comparison to maturing them. With physical activation, it was possible to obtain a specific surfac…
Catalytic conversion of glucose to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural over biomass-based activated carbon catalyst
Abstract Selective and efficient dehydration of glucose to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) has been widely explored research problem recently, especially from the perspective of more sustainable heterogeneous catalysts. In this study, activated carbon was first produced from a lignocellulosic waste material, birch sawdust. Novel heterogeneous catalysts were then prepared from activated carbon by adding Lewis or Bronsted acid sites on the carbon surface. Prepared catalysts were used to convert glucose to HMF in biphasic water:THF system at 160 °C. The highest HMF yield and selectivity, 51% and 78%, respectively, were obtained in 8 h with a catalytic mixture containing both Lewis and Bronsted a…
Bisphenol A removal from water by biomass-based carbon: isotherms, kinetics and thermodynamics studies
Biomass-based carbon was modified and used as an efficient bisphenol A (BPA) sorbent. The simple and environmentally friendly modification method produced sorbent with a capacity of 41.5 mg/g. The raw material was modified with FeCl3 (Fe-CR), treated with hydrochloric acid (H-CR) or modified with CaCl2 (Ca-CR). Batch sorption experiments were performed to evaluate the effects of the initial pH, sorbent dosage, temperature, and contact time on BPA removal. BPA removal with modified carbons was notably higher than that with unmodified carbon. All sorbent materials exhibited very high sorption capacities and compared favourably to materials reported in the literature. Several isotherms were ap…