From industrial waste to carbon-containing nanocomposites to obtain multifunctional properties for industrial applications

Abstract

Helianthus annuus (sunflower) and Brassica napus (canola) are two important crops for vegetable oil industry, but their residues after harvesting cause agricultural waste. In this study, agricultural wastes of sunflower and canola were utilized as activated carbon (AC) after pyrolysing the wastes at 450 °C and activating with HNO3 at 90 °C. Obtained AC was then used to produce Fe3O4@AC nanocomposites and β-cyclodextrin(CD):Fe3O4@AC complex structures. Structural, morphological, spectroscopic, and thermal characteristic properties of the obtained nanocomposites and complex structures were examined by X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), respectively. Produced nanocomposites and complex structures were coated onto cotton woven fabrics which were then tested for their UV protection, flame retardant and antibacterial activity. The test results of the coated fabrics and the control (uncoated cotton fabric) samples showed that Fe3O4@AC and CD:Fe3O4@AC coated fabrics showed significant UV protection, flame retardancy and antibacterial properties. Thus, the effects which would normally be obtained with 3 different finishing chemicals, each of which causes individual waste load, were achieved with a single chemical recycled from a waste. This work is critical in terms of waste management and providing a cleaner production alternative in the field of textile finishing.