Leather solid waste derived activated carbon as a potential material for various applications: A review

Abstract

The leather industry converts waste from the meat industry (animal skin/hide) into a value-added product namely, leather. However, during this process large amount of both solid and liquid waste is generated. Efficient and eco-friendly methods are required for the utilization and safe disposal of these solid waste as it causes severe environmental concerns. In this review, we have focussed on the effective utilization of leather solid waste by converting it into activated carbon and finding various possible potential applications of this activated carbon. Compared to other biowaste-derived carbon (eggshell, banana peel, and orange peel) leather solid waste-derived carbon is rich in nitrogen content and has a high surface area, low cost, easy availability, and a simple synthesis method, hence these characteristics make leather solid waste-derived activated carbon a potential material for various applications such as energy storage, wastewater treatment, rubber sole preparation, dye adsorption, etc. Thus, the objective of this review is to compile the various strategies available for the effective utilization of leather solid waste as activated carbon for a sustainable future. The preparation of activated carbon from tannery solid waste using different activation methods, the properties of the prepared activated carbon, and their potential applications in various fields have been discussed in detail.