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Technologies
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Recent Advances in Applied Activated Carbon Research
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Recent Advances in Applied Activated Carbon Research

A special issue of Technologies (ISSN 2227-7080). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Technology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2024) | Viewed by 12292

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Miklas Scholz

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Department of Civil Engineering Science, School of Civil Engineering, and the Built Environment, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of Johannesburg, Kingsway Campus, P.O. Box 524, Aukland Park 2006, Johannesburg, South Africa
2. Directorate of Engineering the Future, School of Science, Engineering and Environment, The University of Salford, Newton Building, Greater Manchester M5 4WT, UK
3. Department of Town Planning, Engineering Networks and Systems, South Ural State University (National Research University), 76, Lenin Prospekt, Chelyabinsk 454080, Russia
4. Nexus by Sweden, Skepparbacken 5, 722 11 Västerås, Sweden
Interests: sustainability; environmental engineering; agricultural engineering; environmental science; water resource management; agricultural water management; nature-based solution; pollution control; biological filtration; wastewater treatment; decision support system; treatment wetland; integrated constructed wetland; storm water management; sustainable flood retention basin; dam risk failure; sustainable drainage system; climate change adaptation
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The sustainable, effective and cost-efficient treatment of liquids and gases has become a challenge in many sectors, such as in water utilities and in the oil and gas industry. Advanced processing technologies with innovative materials such as activated carbon and biochar have become more attractive in modern water, environmental and chemical engineering applications. One example is the application of activated carbon filters for the fourth treatment stage in water treatment plants to remove per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (known as PFAS).

Today, like never before, questions arise regarding the quality of the activated carbon product’s surface after its development and enhancement via additive manufacturing methods such as coatings for the targeted removal of specific chemicals. Therefore, the creation of efficient carbon molecular sieve membranes is an example of a real challenge in industry.

Fundamental challenges with the thermal decomposition and mechanical destruction of innovative multicomponent carbon-based materials and coatings need to be addressed to move the science and industry forward. In addition, the issues of in situ monitoring, diagnostics and improvements to the performance of sustainable technologies, such as biological regeneration methods, deserve special attention.

The latest achievements regarding the advanced processing technologies of innovative carbon-based materials have become a relevant topic in the most authoritative scientific journals. In addition, progressive achievements have received awards at prestigious competitions and at international scientific events. Moreover, the activated carbon industry has also discovered the use of more sustainable materials and their contribution to the sustainable development goals as additional performance indicators to adjust their sourcing strategy and energy-intensive production processes.

This Special Issue is devoted to the most recent advances and achievements in the field of applied activated carbon research. Welcome are contributions to novel application technologies such as more sustainable adsorbers and multi-stage fluidized bed reactors, as well as the biological regeneration of activated carbon and new products including biochars and carbon molecular sieve membranes. Clean product development methods and strategies in chemical, water and biogas engineering are welcome, and environmental monitoring methods and the results of the water and gas phases are of interest.

The Special Issue will have two sections: fundamentals and recent research advances. In section one, a third of the articles may comprise tutorial articles, short communications from the community and review articles to explain the basic applications, technologies, processes, methods and material characteristics to readers from different backgrounds. The other two thirds of the articles should be technical and full research papers focusing on advanced topics characterized by the keywords found below.

You may choose our Joint Special Issue in ChemEngineering and Joint Special Issue in Clean Technologies.

Yours sincerely,

Prof. Dr. Miklas Scholz
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Technologies is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • activated carbon
  • application technology
  • biochar
  • biogas
  • biological regeneration of activated carbon
  • bioreactor
  • business development
  • carbon-based materials
  • carbon molecular sieve membrane
  • chemical engineering
  • clean technologies
  • design of adsorbers
  • environmental monitoring
  • gas phase
  • material science
  • multi-stage fluidized bed reactor
  • novel technologies
  • PFASS
  • reactivation
  • sustainable development
  • trinkwasser
  • water phase

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (4 papers)

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20 pages, 2678 KiB  
Article
Low-Temperature Slow Pyrolysis: Exploring Biomass-Specific Biochar Characteristics and Potential for Soil Applications
by Matheus Antonio da Silva, Adibe Luiz Abdalla Filho, Ruan Carnier, Juliana de Oliveira Santos Marcatto, Marcelo Saldanha, Aline Renee Coscione, Thaís Alves de Carvalho, Gabriel Rodrigo Merlotto and Cristiano Alberto de Andrade
Technologies 2025, 13(3), 100; https://doi.org/10.3390/technologies13030100 - 3 Mar 2025
Viewed by 1134
Abstract
The pyrolysis process of residues has emerged as a sustainable method for managing organic waste, producing biochars that offer significant benefits for agriculture and the environment. These benefits depend on the properties of the raw biomass and the pyrolysis conditions, such as washing [...] Read more.
The pyrolysis process of residues has emerged as a sustainable method for managing organic waste, producing biochars that offer significant benefits for agriculture and the environment. These benefits depend on the properties of the raw biomass and the pyrolysis conditions, such as washing and drying. This study investigated biochar production through slow pyrolysis at 300 °C, using eight biomass types, four being plant residues (PBR)—sugarcane bagasse, filter cake, sawdust, and stranded algae—and four non-plant-based residues (NPBR)—poultry litter, sheep manure, layer chicken manure, and sewage sludge. The physicochemical properties assessed included yield, carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) content, electrical conductivity, pH, macro- and micronutrients, and potentially toxic metals. Pyrolysis generally increased pH and concentrated C, N, phosphorus (P), and other nutrients while reducing electrical conductivity, C/N ratio, potassium (K), and sulfur (S) contents. The increases in the pH of the biochars in relation to the respective biomasses were between 0.3 and 1.9, with the greatest differences observed for the NPBR biochars. Biochars from sugarcane bagasse and sawdust exhibited high C content (74.57–77.67%), highlighting their potential use for C sequestration. Filter cake biochar excelled in P (14.28 g kg⁻1) and micronutrients, while algae biochar showed elevated N, calcium (Ca), and boron (B) levels. NPBR biochars were rich in N (2.28–3.67%) and P (20.7–43.4 g kg⁻1), making them ideal fertilizers. Although sewage sludge biochar contained higher levels of potentially toxic metals, these remained within regulatory limits. This research highlights variations in the composition of biochars depending on the characteristics of the original biomass and the pyrolysis process, to contribute to the production of customized biochars for the purposes of their application in the soil. Biochars derived from exclusively plant biomasses showed important aspects related to the recovery of carbon from biomass and can be preferred as biochar used to sequester carbon in the soil. On the other hand, biochars obtained from residues with some animal contributions are more enriched in nutrients and should be directed to the management of soil fertility. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Applied Activated Carbon Research)
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20 pages, 4114 KiB  
Article
Effect of Pore Characteristics of Biomass-Derived Activated Carbon for Automobile Canisters via Chemical Stabilization Method on Butane Adsorption Characteristics
by Dong-Sin Jo, Ju-Hwan Kim, Byung-Joo Kim and Hye-Min Lee
Technologies 2025, 13(3), 89; https://doi.org/10.3390/technologies13030089 - 21 Feb 2025
Viewed by 776
Abstract
In this study, kenaf-derived activated carbons (AK-AC) was prepared for automobile canisters via chemical stabilization and physical activation methods. The thermogravimetric analysis and differential thermogravimetry revealed a crystallite change in the kenaf with chemical stabilization. The AK-AC texture properties were studied using the [...] Read more.
In this study, kenaf-derived activated carbons (AK-AC) was prepared for automobile canisters via chemical stabilization and physical activation methods. The thermogravimetric analysis and differential thermogravimetry revealed a crystallite change in the kenaf with chemical stabilization. The AK-AC texture properties were studied using the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller, Dubinin–Radushkevitch, and non-local density functional theory equations, with N2/77K isotherm adsorption–desorption curves. The AK-AC nanocrystallite characteristics were observed through X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. The AK-AC butane adsorption characteristics were analyzed via breakthrough curves and compared with those of commercial coconut-derived activated carbon (Coconut AC). As the activation time increased, the specific surface area and mesopore volume ratio of the AK-AC increased to 1080–1940 m2/g and 10.6–50.0%, respectively. The AK-AC also exhibited better mesoporous pore characteristics than the Coconut AC. The AK-AC butane adsorption capacity increased from 0.31 to 0.79 g/g. In particular, the AK-AC had an approximately 50% improved butane adsorption capacity compared to the Coconut AC. In addition, the butane adsorption characteristics of the AK-AC were determined using the mesopore volume, with a diameter of 3.0–4.0 nm. The results suggest that AK-AC may be proposed as an adsorbent to improve evaporative emissions from automotive canisters in the future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Applied Activated Carbon Research)
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20 pages, 4441 KiB  
Article
Adsorption of HFO-1234ze(E) onto Steam-Activated Carbon Derived from Sawmill Waste Wood
by Huiyuan Bao, Md. Amirul Islam and Bidyut Baran Saha
Technologies 2024, 12(7), 104; https://doi.org/10.3390/technologies12070104 - 5 Jul 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1806
Abstract
This study utilizes waste Albizia lebbeck wood from a sawmill to prepare activated carbon adsorbents and explores their potential application in adsorption cooling systems with a novel hydrofluoroolefin (HFO) refrigerant characterized by a low global warming potential. Activated carbon was synthesized through a [...] Read more.
This study utilizes waste Albizia lebbeck wood from a sawmill to prepare activated carbon adsorbents and explores their potential application in adsorption cooling systems with a novel hydrofluoroolefin (HFO) refrigerant characterized by a low global warming potential. Activated carbon was synthesized through a simple and green steam activation method, and the optimal carbon shows a specific surface area of 946.8 m2/g and a pore volume of 0.843 cm3/g. The adsorption isotherms of HFO-1234ze(E) (Trans-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene) on the activated carbon were examined at 30, 40, and 50 °C up to 400 kPa using a customized constant-volume variable-pressure system, and significant adsorption of 1.041 kg kg−1 was achieved at 30 °C and 400 kPa. The experimental data were fitted using both the Dubinin–Astakhov and Tóth models, and both models provided excellent fit results. The D–A adsorption model simulated the net adsorption capacity at possible operating temperatures. The isosteric of adsorption was determined using the Clausius–Clapeyron and modified Dubinin–Astakhov equations. In addition, the specific cooling effect and coefficient of performance were also studied. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Applied Activated Carbon Research)
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27 pages, 77222 KiB  
Tutorial
How Activated Carbon Can Help You—Processes, Properties and Technological Applications
by Miklas Scholz
Technologies 2023, 11(6), 153; https://doi.org/10.3390/technologies11060153 - 1 Nov 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 7543
Abstract
Activated carbon has many potential applications in both the liquid and gas phases. How activated carbon can help practitioners in industry is explained. This practical teaching article introduces the first part of the special issue on Recent Advances in Applied Activated Carbon Research [...] Read more.
Activated carbon has many potential applications in both the liquid and gas phases. How activated carbon can help practitioners in industry is explained. This practical teaching article introduces the first part of the special issue on Recent Advances in Applied Activated Carbon Research by providing a handbook explaining the basic applications, technologies, processes, methods and material characteristics to readers from different backgrounds. The aim is to improve the knowledge and understanding of the subject of activated carbon for non-adsorption experts such as professionals in industry. Therefore, it is written in a comprehensible manner and dispenses with detailed explanations to complex processes and many background references. This handbook does not claim to be complete and concentrates only on the areas that are of practical relevance for most activated carbon applications. Activated carbon and its activation and reactivation are initially explained. Adsorption and relevant processes are outlined. The mechanical, chemical and adsorption properties of activated carbon are explained. The heart of the handbook outlines key application technologies. Other carbonaceous adsorbents are only introduced briefly. The content of the second part of the special issue is highlighted at the end. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Applied Activated Carbon Research)
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