Optimization of Activated Carbon Synthesis from Spent Coffee Grounds for Enhanced Adsorption Performance
As an adsorbent, biomass activated carbon is effective at the removal of a wide range of organic and inorganic pollutants; however, its synthesis remains complex. Although spent coffee grounds (SCG) could be an effective material for the production of activated carbon, achieving a sufficient surface...
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MDPI AG
2025-06-01
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| author | Geon-Woong Hyeon Gi Bbum Lee Da Jung Kang Sang Eun Lee Kwang Mo Seong Jung-Eun Park |
| author_facet | Geon-Woong Hyeon Gi Bbum Lee Da Jung Kang Sang Eun Lee Kwang Mo Seong Jung-Eun Park |
| author_sort | Geon-Woong Hyeon |
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| description | As an adsorbent, biomass activated carbon is effective at the removal of a wide range of organic and inorganic pollutants; however, its synthesis remains complex. Although spent coffee grounds (SCG) could be an effective material for the production of activated carbon, achieving a sufficient surface area has proven to be difficult. Here, this study presents a preliminary investigation into the optimal manufacturing conditions of activated-carbon adsorbents derived from SCG. SCG samples were characterized according to proximate analysis, elementary analysis, surface area, and pore volumes, then subjected to various processes (i.e., drying, carbonization, and chemical activation) with different operating parameters (temperature and time). The samples were optimized as follows: (1) Stable drying of SCG with a high moisture content of approximately 65% required consumption energy of 49 kWh/kg and drying at 105 °C for 20 h. (2) By comparing changes in the consumption energy and product yield with an increasing amount of carbon fraction, it was found that drying carbonization was more suitable than hydrothermal carbonization for SCG. The optimum drying carbonization temperature for achieving attractive biochar was 500 °C for 1 h. (3) Activated carbon with the optimum surface area (3687 m<sup>2</sup>/g) and mesopore volume fraction (approximately 70%) was achieved with a chemical activator agent ratio of approximately 3 and heating at 850 °C for 1 h. Furthermore, the butane working capacity of the activated carbon was related to the mesopore volume/surface area and reached 74.5% at a mesopore volume/surface area of 0.0004, indicating its suitability for activated carbon canisters. These findings can be used to optimize the synthesis of industrial-grade activated carbon from SCG. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1420-3049 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Molecules |
| spelling | doaj-art-a89c3d537a8440e196a4e4ca9ef6d2eb2025-08-20T03:16:21ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492025-06-013012255710.3390/molecules30122557Optimization of Activated Carbon Synthesis from Spent Coffee Grounds for Enhanced Adsorption PerformanceGeon-Woong Hyeon0Gi Bbum Lee1Da Jung Kang2Sang Eun Lee3Kwang Mo Seong4Jung-Eun Park5Bio Resource Center, Institute of Advanced Engineering, 175-28 Goan-ro 51 beon-gil, Baegam-myeon, Cheoin-gu, Yungin-si 17180, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of KoreaBio Resource Center, Institute of Advanced Engineering, 175-28 Goan-ro 51 beon-gil, Baegam-myeon, Cheoin-gu, Yungin-si 17180, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of KoreaBio Resource Center, Institute of Advanced Engineering, 175-28 Goan-ro 51 beon-gil, Baegam-myeon, Cheoin-gu, Yungin-si 17180, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of KoreaBio Resource Center, Institute of Advanced Engineering, 175-28 Goan-ro 51 beon-gil, Baegam-myeon, Cheoin-gu, Yungin-si 17180, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of KoreaSustainable Materials Research Team, Hyundai Motor Group, 37, Cheoldobangmulgwan-ro, Uiwang-si 16082, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of KoreaBio Resource Center, Institute of Advanced Engineering, 175-28 Goan-ro 51 beon-gil, Baegam-myeon, Cheoin-gu, Yungin-si 17180, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of KoreaAs an adsorbent, biomass activated carbon is effective at the removal of a wide range of organic and inorganic pollutants; however, its synthesis remains complex. Although spent coffee grounds (SCG) could be an effective material for the production of activated carbon, achieving a sufficient surface area has proven to be difficult. Here, this study presents a preliminary investigation into the optimal manufacturing conditions of activated-carbon adsorbents derived from SCG. SCG samples were characterized according to proximate analysis, elementary analysis, surface area, and pore volumes, then subjected to various processes (i.e., drying, carbonization, and chemical activation) with different operating parameters (temperature and time). The samples were optimized as follows: (1) Stable drying of SCG with a high moisture content of approximately 65% required consumption energy of 49 kWh/kg and drying at 105 °C for 20 h. (2) By comparing changes in the consumption energy and product yield with an increasing amount of carbon fraction, it was found that drying carbonization was more suitable than hydrothermal carbonization for SCG. The optimum drying carbonization temperature for achieving attractive biochar was 500 °C for 1 h. (3) Activated carbon with the optimum surface area (3687 m<sup>2</sup>/g) and mesopore volume fraction (approximately 70%) was achieved with a chemical activator agent ratio of approximately 3 and heating at 850 °C for 1 h. Furthermore, the butane working capacity of the activated carbon was related to the mesopore volume/surface area and reached 74.5% at a mesopore volume/surface area of 0.0004, indicating its suitability for activated carbon canisters. These findings can be used to optimize the synthesis of industrial-grade activated carbon from SCG.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/12/2557spend coffee groundsactivated carbonhigh specific surface areamesopore volumebutane working capacity |
| spellingShingle | Geon-Woong Hyeon Gi Bbum Lee Da Jung Kang Sang Eun Lee Kwang Mo Seong Jung-Eun Park Optimization of Activated Carbon Synthesis from Spent Coffee Grounds for Enhanced Adsorption Performance Molecules spend coffee grounds activated carbon high specific surface area mesopore volume butane working capacity |
| title | Optimization of Activated Carbon Synthesis from Spent Coffee Grounds for Enhanced Adsorption Performance |
| title_full | Optimization of Activated Carbon Synthesis from Spent Coffee Grounds for Enhanced Adsorption Performance |
| title_fullStr | Optimization of Activated Carbon Synthesis from Spent Coffee Grounds for Enhanced Adsorption Performance |
| title_full_unstemmed | Optimization of Activated Carbon Synthesis from Spent Coffee Grounds for Enhanced Adsorption Performance |
| title_short | Optimization of Activated Carbon Synthesis from Spent Coffee Grounds for Enhanced Adsorption Performance |
| title_sort | optimization of activated carbon synthesis from spent coffee grounds for enhanced adsorption performance |
| topic | spend coffee grounds activated carbon high specific surface area mesopore volume butane working capacity |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/12/2557 |
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