In-situ catalytic fast pyrolysis of reed as a sustainable method for production of porous carbon as VOCs adsorbents

In this work, preparation of carbon adsorbents for recovery of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by in-situ catalytic fast pyrolysis was investigated. Less emission of carbon gases, less consumption of energy and being fast and facile make the process as a green and sustainable method for production of the carbon adsorbents. Carbon nanostructures were prepared by fast pyrolysis of NiCl2 impregnated reed at 600℃. The porosity of the carbon product was improved by ZnCl2 post activation. Moreover, a highly porous carbon was synthesized by fast pyrolysis of the reed contained NiCl2 and ZnCl2 at 600℃. The carbon products were studied by different analysis methods including FE-SEM, TEM, Raman and FT-IR spectroscopy, BET and TGA. Also, the biogas and the bio-oils obtained as by-products were characterized using GC and GC-Mass instruments. FE-SEM and TEM images showed that the biochar obtained from fast pyrolysis of NiCl2 impregnated reed is a hybrid of carbon nanofibers and graphene (CNFs/G). By post-activation of the CNFs/ G hybrid using ZnCl2, the specific surface area was increased from 34.58 m2/g to 105.68 m2/g. However, by in-situ activation process using NiCl2 and ZnCl2, a product with a specific surface area of 1544.5 m2/g was produced. Adsorption/ desorption of VOCs on the commercial activated carbon and also the post activated CNFs/G hybrid and the in-situ activated product were (122.8/ 74.49), (64.5/ 63.1) and (643.6/ 428.1) mg/gadsorbent, respectively. GC-mass analysis of the bio-oils revealed that they contained invaluable chemicals including furfural (30.63—56.22%wt.) and acetic acid (35.51–51.44%wt.). [Display omitted] •The biochar obtained from in-situ catalytic fast pyrolysis was a hybrid of CNFs and Graphene.•Highly porous carbons were formed by in-situ activation using the reed contained NiCl2 and ZnCl2.•The process was fast and facile, liberated highly less carbon gases and consumed much less energy.•The adsorption capacities of the in-situ activated carbon for gasoline vapor were 643.6 mg/gadsorbent.•The bio-oils obtained from in-situ catalytic fast pyrolysis mostly contained furfural and acetic acid.