Novel activated carbon from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) waste for sustainable freshwater production
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The primary objective of this study is to develop activated carbon derived from industrial polyethylene terephthalate (PET) waste for freshwater production through air dehumidification. Commercial activated carbon synthesized from agro-industrial coffee and coconut waste was also evaluated. The findings revealed that materials without surface acidification had a surface area of up to 1313 m2·g−1. In contrast, materials that underwent superficial modification showed a decrease in surface area of up to 65 % for those derived from coffee and coconut waste and 5 % for those from PET waste. Adsorption experiments were conducted under relative humidity from 11 % to 84 % and temperatures of 293.15, 303.15, and 313.15 K, producing type IV isotherms per IUPAC classification, except for P800N (carbonized at 1073.15 K and acid-modified), which displayed type IV behavior owing to increased microporous volume and affinity for water. The highest adsorption capacity was recorded at 1.55 g‧g−1 for P800N under 84 % relative humidity at 293.15 K. The thermodynamic analysis indicated a spontaneous exothermic sorption process. Field tests in Medellín, Colombia, demonstrated the practical performance of P800N in an adsorption/desorption device powered by solar energy, yielding approximately 0.9 g of condensed water per g of dry material. During these tests, the average relative humidity during adsorption was 80 %, with a wind speed of 2.3 m‧s−1 at 293.15 K, and desorption occurred at an average temperature of 299.35 K. These results underscore the potential of PET-derived activated carbons to provide sustainable freshwater solutions in water-scarce environments, supporting circular economy principles, and contributing to social well-being in regions facing water scarcity challenges. © 2025
Palabras clave
Activated carbon, Freshwater production, Surface acidification, Water adsorption