Hierarchical porous carbon foam electrodes fabricated from waste polyurethane elastomer template for electric double-layer capacitors.

Plastic waste has become a major global environmental concern. The utilization of solid waste-derived porous carbon for energy storage has received widespread attention in recent times. Herein, we report the comparison of electrochemical performance of porous carbon foams (CFs) produced from waste polyurethane (PU) elastomer templates via two different activation pathways. Electric double-layer capacitors (EDLCs) fabricated from the carbon foam exhibited a gravimetric capacitance of 74.4 F/g at 0.1 A/g. High packing density due to the presence of carbon spheres in the hierarchical structure offered excellent volumetric capacitance of 134.7 F/cm3 at 0.1 A/g. Besides, the CF-based EDLCs exhibited Coulombic efficiency close to 100% and showed stable cyclic performance for 5000 charge-discharge cycles with good capacitance retention of 97.7% at 3 A/g. Low equivalent series resistance (1.05 Ω) and charge transfer resistance (0.23 Ω) due to the extensive presence of hydroxyl functional groups contributed to attaining high power (48.89 kW/kg). Based on the preferred properties such as high specific surface area, hierarchical pore structure, surface functionalities, low metallic impurities, high conductivity and desirable capacitive behaviour, the CF prepared from waste PU elastomers have shown potential to be adopted as electrodes in EDLCs.

Preparation and Photocatalytic Performance of TiO2 Nanowire-Based Self-Supported Hybrid Membranes.

Nowadays, the use of hybrid structures and multi-component materials is gaining ground in the fields of environmental protection, water treatment and removal of organic pollutants. This study describes promising, cheap and photoactive self-supported hybrid membranes as a possible solution for wastewater treatment applications. In the course of this research work, the photocatalytic performance of titania nanowire (TiO2 NW)-based hybrid membranes in the adsorption and degradation of methylene blue (MB) under UV irradiation was investigated. Characterization techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray powder diffractometry (XRD) were used to study the morphology and surface of the as-prepared hybrid membranes. We tested the photocatalytic efficiency of the as-prepared membranes in decomposing methylene blue (MB) under UV light irradiation. The hybrid membranes achieved the removal of MB with a degradation efficiency of 90% in 60 min. The high efficiency can be attributed to the presence of binary components in the membrane that enhanced both the adsorption capability and the photocatalytic ability of the membranes. The results obtained suggest that multicomponent hybrid membranes could be promising candidates for future photocatalysis-based water treatment technologies that also take into account the principles of circular economy.

Composite Carbon Foams as an Alternative to the Conventional Biomass-Derived Activated Carbon in Catalytic Application.

The suitability of a new type of polyurethane-based composite carbon foam for several possible usages is evaluated and reported. A comparison of the properties of the as-prepared carbon foams was performed with widely available commercial biomass-derived activated carbon. Carbon foams were synthesized from polyurethane foams with different graphite contents through one-step activation using CO2. In this work, a carbon catalyst was synthesized with a moderately active surface (SBET = 554 m2/g), a thermal conductivity of 0.09 W/mK, and a minimum metal ion content of 0.2 wt%, which can be recommended for phosgene production. The composite carbon foams exhibited better thermal stability, as there is a very little weight loss at temperatures below 500 °C, and weight loss is slower at temperatures above 500 °C (phosgene synthesis: 550-700 °C). Owing to the good surface and thermal properties and the negligible metallic impurities, composite carbon foam produced from polyurethane foams are the best alternative to the conventional coconut-based activated carbon catalyst used in phosgene gas production.

Development of Highly Efficient, Glassy Carbon Foam Supported, Palladium Catalysts for Hydrogenation of Nitrobenzene.

Glassy carbon foam (GCF) catalyst supports were synthesized from waste polyurethane elastomers by impregnating them in sucrose solution followed by pyrolysis and activation (AC) using N2 and CO2 gas. The palladium nanoparticles were formed from Pd(NO3)2. The formed palladium nanoparticles are highly dispersive because the mean diameters are 8.0 ± 4.3 (Pd/GCF), 7.6 ± 4.2 (Pd/GCF-AC1) and 4.4 ± 1.6 nm (Pd/GCF-AC2). Oxidative post-treatment by CO2 of the supports resulted in the formation of hydroxyl groups on the GCF surfaces, leading to a decrease in zeta potential. The decreased zeta potential increased the wettability of the GCF supports. This, and the interactions between -OH groups and Pd ions, decreased the particle size of palladium. The catalysts were tested in the hydrogenation of nitrobenzene. The non-treated, glassy-carbon-supported catalyst (Pd/GCF) resulted in a 99.2% aniline yield at 293 K and 50 bar hydrogen pressure, but the reaction was slightly slower than other catalysts. The catalysts on the post-treated (activated) supports showed higher catalytic activity and the rate of hydrogenation was higher. The maximum attained aniline selectivities were 99.0% (Pd/GCF-AC1) at 293 K and 98.0% (Pd/GCF-AC2) at 323 K.