Oxidative exfoliation of spent cathode carbon: A two-in-one strategy for its decontamination and high-valued application

doi:10.1016/j.cjche.2022.10.020

Chinese Journal of Chemical Engineering ›› 2023, Vol. 59 ›› Issue (7): 262-269.DOI: 10.1016/j.cjche.2022.10.020

Oxidative exfoliation of spent cathode carbon: A two-in-one strategy for its decontamination and high-valued application

Runze Chen¹, Yuran Chen¹, Xuemin Liang¹, Yapeng Kong¹, Yangyang Fan¹, Quan Liu², Zhenyu Yang², Feiying Tang^3,4, Johnny Muya Chabu⁵, Maru Dessie Walle⁶, Liqiang Wang¹

1. Henan Province Industrial Technology Research Institute of Resources and Materials, School of Material Science and Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China;
2. College of Chemical Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China;
3. College of Chemical Engineering, Xiangtan University, Xiangtan 411105, China;
4. Foshan Green Intelligent Manufacturing Research Institute of Xiangtan University, Foshan 528010, China;
5. Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi, BP 1825, Democratic Republic of the Congo;
6. College of Science, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar 79, Ethiopia

Received:2022-06-13 Revised:2022-10-13 Online:2023-10-14 Published:2023-07-28
Contact: Yapeng Kong,E-mail:kongyapeng@zzu.edu.cn;Liqiang Wang,E-mail:wangliqiang@zzu.edu.cn
Supported by:
This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (22008221); Startup Research Fund of Zhengzhou University (32211716); Key Scientific Research Projects of Colleges and Universities in Henan Province (21A530005); Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation (2021A1515110789); Hunan Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China (2022JJ40431); Zhengzhou Collaborative Innovation Major Project.

Oxidative exfoliation of spent cathode carbon: A two-in-one strategy for its decontamination and high-valued application

Runze Chen¹, Yuran Chen¹, Xuemin Liang¹, Yapeng Kong¹, Yangyang Fan¹, Quan Liu², Zhenyu Yang², Feiying Tang^3,4, Johnny Muya Chabu⁵, Maru Dessie Walle⁶, Liqiang Wang¹

1. Henan Province Industrial Technology Research Institute of Resources and Materials, School of Material Science and Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China;
2. College of Chemical Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China;
3. College of Chemical Engineering, Xiangtan University, Xiangtan 411105, China;
4. Foshan Green Intelligent Manufacturing Research Institute of Xiangtan University, Foshan 528010, China;
5. Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi, BP 1825, Democratic Republic of the Congo;
6. College of Science, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar 79, Ethiopia

通讯作者: Yapeng Kong,E-mail:kongyapeng@zzu.edu.cn;Liqiang Wang,E-mail:wangliqiang@zzu.edu.cn
基金资助:
This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (22008221); Startup Research Fund of Zhengzhou University (32211716); Key Scientific Research Projects of Colleges and Universities in Henan Province (21A530005); Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation (2021A1515110789); Hunan Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China (2022JJ40431); Zhengzhou Collaborative Innovation Major Project.

Abstract

Abstract: Spent cathode carbon (SCC) from aluminum electrolysis is a potential graphite resource. However, full use of the SCC remains a challenge, since it contains many hazardous substances (e.g., fluoride salts, cyanides), encapsulated within the thick carbon layers and thus posing serious environmental concerns. This work presents a chemical oxidative exfoliation route to achieve the recycling of SCC and the decontaminated SCC with high-valued graphene oxide (GO)-like carbon structures (SCC-GO) is applied as an excellent adsorbent for organic pollutants. Specifically, after the oxidative exfoliation, the embedded hazardous constituents are fully exposed, facilitating their subsequent removal by aqueous leaching. Moreover, benefiting from the enhanced specific surface areas along with abundant O-containing functional groups, the as-produced SCC-GO, shows an adsorption capacity as high as 347 mg·g^-1 when considering methylene blue as a pollutant model, which exceeds most of the recently reported carbon-based adsorbents. Our study provides a feasible solution for the efficient recycling of hazardous carbonaceous wastes.

Key words: Waste treatment, Spent cathode carbon, Oxidative exfoliation, Purification, Recovery, Adsorption

摘要： Spent cathode carbon (SCC) from aluminum electrolysis is a potential graphite resource. However, full use of the SCC remains a challenge, since it contains many hazardous substances (e.g., fluoride salts, cyanides), encapsulated within the thick carbon layers and thus posing serious environmental concerns. This work presents a chemical oxidative exfoliation route to achieve the recycling of SCC and the decontaminated SCC with high-valued graphene oxide (GO)-like carbon structures (SCC-GO) is applied as an excellent adsorbent for organic pollutants. Specifically, after the oxidative exfoliation, the embedded hazardous constituents are fully exposed, facilitating their subsequent removal by aqueous leaching. Moreover, benefiting from the enhanced specific surface areas along with abundant O-containing functional groups, the as-produced SCC-GO, shows an adsorption capacity as high as 347 mg·g^-1 when considering methylene blue as a pollutant model, which exceeds most of the recently reported carbon-based adsorbents. Our study provides a feasible solution for the efficient recycling of hazardous carbonaceous wastes.

关键词: Waste treatment, Spent cathode carbon, Oxidative exfoliation, Purification, Recovery, Adsorption

Runze Chen, Yuran Chen, Xuemin Liang, Yapeng Kong, Yangyang Fan, Quan Liu, Zhenyu Yang, Feiying Tang, Johnny Muya Chabu, Maru Dessie Walle, Liqiang Wang. Oxidative exfoliation of spent cathode carbon: A two-in-one strategy for its decontamination and high-valued application[J]. Chinese Journal of Chemical Engineering, 2023, 59(7): 262-269.

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Oxidative exfoliation of spent cathode carbon: A two-in-one strategy for its decontamination and high-valued application

Oxidative exfoliation of spent cathode carbon: A two-in-one strategy for its decontamination and high-valued application

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