Waste-polystyrene foams-derived magnetic carbon material for adsorption and redox supercapacitor applications

• Published in: Journal of cleaner production Vol. 313; p. 127903
• Main Authors: Machado, Natália C.F., de Jesus, Larissa A.M., Pinto, Paula S., de Paula, Fabiano G.F., Alves, Márcio O., Mendes, Kélrie H.A., Mambrini, Raquel V., Barrreda, Daniel, Rocha, Victoria, Santamaría, Ricardo, Trigueiro, João P.C., Lavall, Rodrigo L., Ortega, Paulo F.R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.09.2021
• Subjects: Adsorption; Energy storage; Expanded polystyrene; Magnetic activated carbon; Supercapacitor; Supercapacitor; Adsorption; Expanded polystyrene; Magnetic activated carbon; Energy storage
• ISSN: 0959-6526; 1879-1786
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.127903

The current impact of plastic waste on the environment and nature pushes for coming up with methods for their efficient reuse and recycle. Expanded polystyrene waste, massively produced worldwide, is presented in this work as a novel precursor of magnetic activated carbons (MAC) for the first time. A simple methodology based on the impregnation of EPS samples with Fe3+ in solution, followed by pyrolysis under Ar pressure and chemical activation is proposed. The as-prepared carbonaceous magnetic materials present nanometric phases of Fe0, Fe3C, and Fe3O4, and showed high specific surface area (672 m2 g−1) and total pore volume (0.35 cm3 g−1), one of the highest found in the carbonaceous magnetic materials literature. Their excellent textural, chemical and electrical properties, combined with the possibility of magnetically collection and regeneration after operation guaranteed an excellent performance of MAC in two different applications: as adsorbents of organic contaminants and as electrodes of redox supercapacitors. [Display omitted] •Magnetic activated carbon (MAC) was prepared from waste-polystyrene foams.•MAC have graphitic domains and nanometric iron phases on its microstructures.•MAC stood out for its high textural properties among the magnetic carbon materials.•MAC are excellent adsorbents for organic compounds and can be thermally regenerated.•MAC show electrochemical properties suitable for redox supercapacitor application.