Single-step synthesis of high surface area activated carbon from polyethylene terephthalate plastic waste for environmental treatment applications

The escalating environmental concerns regarding plastic waste necessitate innovative strategies for waste management and resource utilization. This study presented a novel approach for synthesizing high surface area activated carbon through a single-step process, using polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic waste as the precursor and potassium hydroxide (KOH) as the activating agent. The optimal activation conditions were established using a weight ratio of 1:1 of PET to KOH and annealing for 15 minutes at 700 oC. The conversion efficiency of PET plastic trash into activated carbon exceeded 20%. The materials underwent thorough characterization using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The activated carbon obtained has a mesoporous structure and a surface area of 1831.166 m2/g. The activated carbon-prepared plastic waste showed high removal efficiency for the organic dyes in an aqueous solution, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 131.58 mg/g. The successful transformation of plastic waste into a valuable resource underscores the importance of innovative approaches to mitigating environmental degradation. The synthesized activated carbon's efficacy in adsorption-based remediation strategies establishes its potential for addressing various pollution issues and opens new avenues for valuing plastic waste.