Conversion of Poly(Ethylene Terephthalate) Waste into Activated Carbon: Chemical Activation and Characterization

Abstract Due to its high carbon content, low impurities, low cost and easy availability, poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) waste is considered as a suitable precursor for the production of activated carbon. The chemical activation of PET wastes using different chemical agents such as H 3 PO 4 , H 2 SO 4 , ZnCl 2 , and KOH was investigated. KOH‐ and ZnCl 2 ‐activated PET were found to be the best choices for the adsorption of small and large molecules. The capacities of the adsorbents towards I 2 , methylene blue, N 2 , CH 4 , and CO 2 followed the order KOH‐PET >H 3 PO 4 ‐PET > ZnCl 2 ‐PET > H 2 SO 4 ‐PET; however, in the molasses uptake and selective adsorption of CO 2 compared to CH 4 , ZnCl 2 ‐PET performed better than the other adsorbents.