METHOD FOR SYNTHESIZING FLUORESCENT NITROGEN-DOPED CARBON QUANTUM DOTS FROM FOOD WASTES

The present utility model relates to a method for synthesizing fluorescent carbon quantum dots (CQDs) with nitrogen functional groups from food wastes, comprising the steps of: preparing and washing the carbon source material with water, wherein the carbon source material comprises the at least one food waste; drying the washed carbon source material via an oven dryer at about 100 øC; dispersing the dried carbon source material in an acid solution to produce a first solution, wherein the acid solution is a 1 pcnt acid solution and the ratio of the first solution is 1 g dried carbon source material: 12.5 mL acid solution; adding tetraethylenepentamine (TEPA) to the first solution to produce a second solution, wherein TEPA acts as a reactant to incorporate nitrogen functional groups; subjecting the second solution to hydrothermal treatment to produce a third solution containing synthesized CQDs with nitrogen functional groups, wherein the hydrothermal treatment is performed at 180 øC - 220 øC for at least 4 -12 hours via an autoclave chamber; centrifuging the third solution at at least 12,000 rpm via a centrifuge to separate unreacted materials from the synthesized CQDs with nitrogen functional groups; and filtering the centrifuged third solution to obtain the synthesized CQDs with nitrogen function groups in solution. The synthesized fluorescent CQDs with nitrogen functional groups can be used in bioimaging and biosensing applications.