Carbon quantum dots: An environmentally friendly and valued approach to sludge disposal

Sewage sludge, produced daily and inherent to urban development, presents problems of disposal that are still challenging today. Its disposal still offers palliative solutions, where the final destination is generally in landfills or, restrictively, to use in agriculture. The synthesis of carbon quantum dots (CQDs) from sewage sludge is a better alternative to use the stock of organic material present in the sludge. The present work aims to produce Carbon quantum dots (CQDs) using principles of green chemistry and to use an alternative raw material intrinsic stock of carbon present in sewage sludge, making its final disposal more sustainable. The material obtained has a core structure mainly composed of sp