Synthesis and characterization of activated carbon produced from waste human hair mass using chemical activation

In this study, hair waste was converted into active carbon for the first time and its characteristics were analyzed. As chemical activation tool, zinc chloride (ZnCl 2 ) was impregnated and then carbonized under different temperatures (250–300 °C). Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) images showed an increase in the pore density, radius and volume of pores. X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) showed that the samples had an amorphous structure. In Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscope analysis, C=C and N–H vibrations observed in 1515–1520 cm −1 wave number of protein molecules were found to disappear with the increase in temperature. With Raman spectroscopy, the behaviors of D peak at 1344 cm −1 wave number and G peak at 1566 cm −1 wave number expressing structure layout in carbonized structures were analyzed depending on the temperatures. Between these intensities, ( I D / I G ) the rate was found to differ in direct proportion to temperature. XRD spectrums showed that the samples are converted into a more irregular crystal structure. All these results implied that the waste hair mass could be used as an adsorbant material.