Research progress on methods, mechanisms, and applications of activated carbon preparation from waste plastics by pyrolysis

The massive production of waste plastics and severe environmental pollution make effective treatment and utilization of waste plastics urgent. Converting waste plastics into activated carbon not only addresses environmental issues but also provides economic benefits. This study reviewed methods and applications of preparing activated carbon from waste plastics, introducing their classification and characteristics. Various factors affecting the performance of activated carbon were discussed, with KOH identified as the best activator, achieving a specific surface area of 2712 m²/g. Efficient technologies like catalytic and microwave pyrolysis were highlighted. Applications of activated carbon in wastewater treatment, catalytic materials, waste gas treatment, and battery electrodes were analyzed, showcasing its capability to adsorb organic pollutants and heavy metals, with CO₂ adsorption up to 8.93 mmol/g. Finally, challenges and future directions were summarized, focusing on improving activation efficiency, reducing energy consumption, and expanding application fields.