Abstract

Waste soot generated from diesel engine of merchant ships has ≥ 2 µm agglomerates consisting of 30–50 nm spherical particles, whose morphology is identical to that of carbon black (CB) used in many industrial applications. In this study, we crystallized waste soot by heat treatment to transform it into a unique completely graphitic nano-onion structure, which is considerably different from that of commercial conductive CB. While commercial CB has a large specific surface area because of many surface micropores generated due to quenching by water-spraying in the production process, the heat-treated waste soot has a smooth micropore-free surface. Thus, the treated waste soot acquires the shape of CB but has a much smaller specific surface area. When the treated soot is used as a conductive material in lithium ion battery (LIB) half cells, the Coulombic efficiency of the entire anode is improved significantly owing to its low specific surface area; the electrochemical performance of the LIB is considerably enhanced compared to that of conventional conductive materials. Thus, polluting soot generated in marine propulsion can be transformed into a new class of CB with a unique structure by simple heat treatment; this soot can also be used as an inexpensive conductive material to enhance the LIB performance.

Highlights

  • Black carbon (BC) is a solid particulate material produced by incomplete combustion of carbon-based fuels

  • BC from marine diesel engines is estimated to account for as high as 1–2% of the world’s total BC generation [1]. This is because the ship fuel is lower in quality than other fossil fuels used in combustion engines, and more BC is emitted per unit of ship fuel consumed [2]

  • BC is responsible for half of the Arctic warming [5], as it strongly absorbs incoming and reflected light irradiation [6,7] and accelerates melting of snow and ice when it is deposited on these surface [8]

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Summary

Introduction

Black carbon (BC) is a solid particulate material produced by incomplete combustion of carbon-based fuels It generally contains 80% mass or more of carbon atoms that are usually connected by sp bonds. BC from marine diesel engines is estimated to account for as high as 1–2% of the world’s total BC generation [1]. This is because the ship fuel is lower in quality than other fossil fuels used in combustion engines, and more BC is emitted per unit of ship fuel consumed [2]. As a result of the shrinking Arctic ice, the Arctic shipping route has begun to develop, and an increase in shipping through that region will lead to even more BC discharge/deposition, exacerbating the warming

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