Work

Sustainable Valorization of Plastic Waste and Palm Fronds into Chemically Activated Carbon–Polymer Composite

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Polyolefin waste is an abundant yet underutilized resource for developing value-added materials, while palm fronds (PF), a lignocellulosic biomass, offer a promising feedstock for activated carbon (AC) production. However, conventional AC from biomass is typically obtained in powdered form, making it difficult to handle and recover in aqueous systems without external support. Incorporating polyolefins during synthesis enables the formation of chemically activated polymer–carbon composite (PCC), which offers improved usability and recovery. This study aims to evaluate the environmental sustainability of producing PCC from PF and polyolefins, using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to quantify energy consumption and climate change impact. The LCA results show a net energy demand of 88.59 MJ and a climate change impact of 3.57 kg CO2 eq. per kg of PCC. Substituting conventional petroleum-based AC with PCC led to a 28% reduction in climate change impact and a 30% decrease in energy demand. By integrating biomass and plastic waste, this research supports sustainable material development and promotes circular economy practices in water treatment applications.

Source: Polymers

DOI: 10.3390/polym17172356

Authors: Junaid Saleem, Zubair Khalid Baig Moghal, Furqan Tahir, Gordon McKay

Institutions: Hamad bin Khalifa University, Qatar Foundation, Qatar University

Language: English

Topic: Adsorption and biosorption for pollutant removal

Subfield: Water Science and Technology

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Responsible consumption and production, Climate action, Affordable and clean energy

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,258