UV Photoactivation of Nano/Micro Porous Plant-Derived Carbon and Application to CO2 Gas Adsorption

ABSTRACT Activated nano/micro-porous carbon was prepared by UV and chemical treatment of plant precursors (Erandmule, Ricinus communis, powder of the roots of the plant; Jawas seeds, Linum usitatissimum; Puffed Rice; Neem roots powder, Azadirachta indica) for use in adsorbing greenhouse gases such as CO2. Zinc chloride was used to increase the interlayer spacing of the carbon materials, and UV irradiation was used to increase the formation of charge carriers in the material. We compared the CO2 adsorption of irradiated and non-irradiated materials and observed that the UV irradiated materials exhibited greater adsorption. During adsorption testing, pressure reductions for non-irradiated samples were approximately 20–30% of the initial pressure, while irradiated samples of erandmul displayed pressure reductions of 56%. The maximum surface area was observed in samples prepared from puffed rice (982 m2/g).