Sewage Sludge-Derived Activated Carbon: Influence of Chemical Activation and Pyrolysis Conditions on Morphology and Crystallinity

Document Type : Original Research Paper

Authors

1 Dept. of Chemical and Petrochemical Engineering, College of Engineering and Architecture, University of Nizwa, Sultanate of Oman

2 Dept. of Civil and environmental Engineering, College of Engineering and Architecture, University of Nizwa, Sultanate of Oman

10.22059/poll.2025.386767.2692

Abstract

In this study activated carbon was prepared from sewage sludge through chemical activation using different chemicals such as (ZnCl2, NaOH, KOH) followed by pyrolysis in tubular furnace at (500℃, 600℃, 700℃) and further physically activated using CO2 at 400℃. Pure sludge and prepared ACs were analyzed using SEM, FTIR and XRD. The sample morphology in SEM shows that the surface morphology of each sample is quite different according to the used chemical activating reagents and relatively larger pores on the surface of the prepared activated carbon using NaOH solution for activation and pyrolysis at 500oC compared to other samples. The results showed 18% crystallinity compared to that of commercial AC with 44% crystallinity. The results of FT-IR demonstrate that the properties of the post-treated affect the final products and depend on the method used and that it contains similar functional groups to those present in the commercial AC. During carbonation process, the sludge sample lost 30-60 % of the original weight. 

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Main Subjects

References

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Pollution
Volume 11, Issue 4
October 2025
Pages 1042-1056

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