Graduate Training Position – Synthesis of activated carbons from solid distillation residues by physical, chemical, or hydrothermal activation

General Information

Title

Synthesis of Activated Carbons (ACs) from solid distillation residues (lavender and/or anise) by physical, chemical, or hydrothermal activation.

Sending Institution

Notre Dame University Louaize (NDU) in Lebanon

Host Institution

University of Granada (UGR) in Spain

Advisor(s)

Dr. Sergio Morales Torres from UGR and Dr. Elias Feghali from NDU.

Start Date

June 27, 2022

Application Deadline

April 15, 2022

Keywords

Activated carbons, Chemical characterization, Anise

Profile & Skills Required

Chemical engineering student who validated 90 credits with GPA>3.00

Promoting Research Work

All relevant results will be published in international journals and presented at national and international conferences. In addition, if these materials perform well, the patentability of any new results will be considered before any public disclosure.

Training Details

Description

Textural and chemical characterization of the samples will be carried out by different techniques, and their behavior as adsorbents will be assessed in NDU.

Objectives

• Synthesis of ACs from distillation residues by different activation methods
• For chemical activation: KOH in a residue: ratio of 1:1 and T = 800 °C.
• For physical activation: excess of CO2 and T = 800 °C.
• For hydrothermal activation: a high-pressure reactor will be used at different temperatures (180, 190, 200 °C) and times (4, 8, 12 h). A carbonization/activation step could be needed.
  
  Textural and chemical characterization by physical adsorption of nitrogen, SEM, FTIR, TG/DTG, and measurements of the point of zero charges.

References

• Sonia Judith Segovia-Sandoval, Luisa M. Pastrana-Martínez, Raúl Ocampo-Pérez, Sergio Morales-Torres, María Selene Berber-Mendoza, Francisco Carrasco-Marín, Synthesis and characterization of carbon xerogel/graphene hybrids as adsorbents for metronidazole pharmaceutical removal: Effect of operating parameters, Separation and Purification Technology, Volume 237, 2020, 116341, ISSN 1383-5866, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2019.116341">.
• Esteves BM, Morales-Torres S, Maldonado-Hódar FJ, Madeira LM. Fitting Biochars and Activated Carbons from Residues of the Olive Oil Industry as Supports of Fe- Catalysts for the Heterogeneous Fenton-like Treatment of Simulated Olive Mill Wastewater. Nanomaterials. 2020; 10(5):876. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano10050876.
• Bruno M. Esteves, Sergio Morales-Torres, Luis M. Madeira, Francisco J. Maldonado-Hódar, Specific adsorbents for the treatment of OMW phenolic compounds by activation of bio-residues from the olive oil industry, Journal of Environmental Management, Volume 306, 2022, 114490, ISSN 0301-4797, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.114490.

Templates

Any omission or non-compliance with the instructions requested will result in the Applicant's ineligibility. Any application that does not comply with the instructions will be rejected.

- Guide for Applicants.
- Application form N°1.