Simultaneous optimization of carbon yield and iodine adsorption of ACFs derived from carpet wastes

Abstract

AbstractRecycling post‐consumer carpet waste is a critical consideration for decreasing the environmental hazard of non‐biodegradable plastics. Therefore, the manufacturing of activated carbon fibres (ACFs) from post‐consumer carpet waste treated with KOH was modelled and optimized by the response surface methodology (RSM). The simultaneous effects of carbonization rate, pyrolysis temperature, and activation time on the performance of carpet waste‐based ACFs were studied. Box–Behnken design (BBD) was applied to study the influence of three significant processing parameters on the carbon yield and iodine adsorption of synthesized ACFs. The RSM analysis established that pyrolysis temperature was the most important parameter affecting the ACFs' performance. The optimum settings that led to the production of high carbon yield and iodine adsorption of ACFs were a carbonization rate of 5.4°C/min, pyrolysis temperature of 705.7°C, and activation time of 83 min. The carbon yield and iodine adsorption under the above conditions were obtained at 49.8 ± 0.9 wt.% and 1351 ± 45 mg/g, respectively. BBD has been established to be a powerful approach in modelling and optimization to achieve high‐quality of iodine adsorbents from carpet wastes.