Technological characterisation of an innovative, shaped carbon from bagasse by comparison to two commercially available carbons

Abstract

Developing adsorbents from renewable raw materials offers a sustainable alternative to reduce reliance on fossil resources for fluid stream purification in packed beds. This study focuses on a pelletised shaped carbon adsorbent derived from bagasse, an agricultural by-product of sugar production, as a promising raw material with high ecological and value-enhancing potential. Comprehensive physico-mechanical and adsorption-specific characterisations (e.g., specific surface area, pore size distribution, pore volume) were conducted. With regard to specific areas of application, the adsorption behaviour of the shaped carbon from bagasse for CO₂, N₂, and CH₄ at 293 K, as well as its cycle stability under pressure variations (0.1/3.0 MPa), were determined gravimetrically and compared to two commercial activated carbons (Norit® ROW and HOK® Activated Lignite). In addition, industrial performance is indicated using breakthrough behaviour and evaluating the suitability for aqueous separation applications by iodine and methylene blue number.

The shaped carbon from bagasse demonstrated promising properties, including a ball pan hardness of ∼ 99 % and a specific surface area of ∼ 390 m²/g. This study highlights the potential of bagasse-derived shaped carbon as a sustainable and efficient adsorbent. The findings provide a comprehensive classification of the material, enabling its targeted selection for gaseous and aqueous separation tasks based on material properties.