Carbonization Process Research Articles

Ultrafast Synthesis of Hard Carbon Anodes for Sodium-ion Batteries: An Intense-Pulsed-Light-Assisted Approach to Photothermal Carbonization of Polymer/Carbon Nanotube Composite Films.

The conventional carbonization process for synthesizing hard carbons (HCs) requires high-temperature furnace operations exceeding 1000°C, leading to excessive energy consumption and lengthy processing times, which necessitates the exploration of more efficient synthesis methods. This study demonstrates the rapid preparation of HC anodes using intense pulsed light (IPL)-assisted photothermal carbonization without the prolonged and complex operations typical of traditional carbonization methods. A composite film of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) is carbonized at high temperatures in less than 1 min. The SWCNTs efficiently absorbed light energy, enabling ultrafast heating and eliminating the need for prolonged, high-energy furnace-based processes. The IPL-assisted HC anodes exhibited excellent electrochemical performance, with an initial desodiation capacity of 260.4 mAh g⁻¹anode and 97.5% capacity retention after 200 cycles. These results are comparable to those achieved using traditional furnace-based carbonization processes, such as carbonizing HC anodes at 1200°C, validating the effectiveness of IPL-assisted processes. Additionally, surface and structural analyses revealed the development of pseudo-graphitic domains, crucial for enhanced sodium-ion storage. This research highlights IPL-assisted photothermal carbonization as a viable, time-efficient, and energy-saving alternative to conventional methods, offering a sustainable pathway for the large-scale production of HC anodes for future sodium-ion battery technologies.

Facile Surface Chemical Tailoring of Industrial Carbon Waste for Improved Sodium Storage

Sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs) have emerged as promising supplementary for energy storage devices. Among various anode materials, carbon‐based materials have been considered ideal for SIBs due to their excellent electronic conductivity, great mechanical strength, and large surface area. However, the small interlayer distance and slower reaction kinetics significantly limit their practical application in SIBs. The study of carbon materials in SIBs found that heteroatom doping could help enlarge interlayer distance and adsorb more Na+ simultaneously. Hence, petroleum coke (PC), an industrial waste, is chosen as a precursor. A straightforward oxidation and carbonization process is employed to introduce oxygen atoms into the carbon skeleton (OPC). The heteroatom‐doped OPC exhibits a unique microcrystalline structure comprising both graphitic and disordered regions. This structure improves rate performance and enhances initial columbic efficiency (ICE) for sodium storage. Consequently, it can deliver a better cycling capacity of 209 mAh g−1 at 0.1 A g−1 and a high ICE of 51.3% (vs 66.9 mAh g−1 with ICE of PC 12.6%). This study shows that heteroatom doping and microstructural tailoring of materials derived from petroleum coke provide a viable approach for enhancing the electrochemical performance of SIBs, paving the way for sustainable and efficient sodium storage.

Rooting for microbes: impact of root architecture on the microbial community and function in top- and subsoil

Abstract Background and aims Climate change and associated weather extremes pose major challenges to agricultural food production, necessitating the development of more resilient agricultural systems. Adapting cropping systems to cope with extreme environmental conditions is a critical challenge. This study investigates the influence of contrasting root system architectures on microbial communities and functions in top- and subsoil. Methods A column experiment was performed to investigate the effects of different root architectures, specifically deep (DRS) and shallow (SRS) root systems of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) on microbial biomass, major microbial groups, and extracellular enzyme activities in soil. We focused on β-glucosidase (BG) activity, which is an indicator for microbial activity, during different plant growth stages, using destructive and non-destructive approaches. Results We found that the DRS promoted microbial biomass and enzyme activity in subsoil, while the SRS increased the microbial biomass and enzyme activity in topsoil. In-situ soil zymography provided fine-scale spatial insights, highlighting distinct patterns of BG activity near root centers and formation of enzyme activity hotspots, which were defined as regions where enzyme activity exceeds the mean activity level by 50%. Temporal changes in BG activity further underscored the dynamic nature of root-microbe interactions. Extracellular enzyme activities indicated varying carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus acquisition strategies of rhizosphere microorganisms between top- and subsoil. Conclusion This study underscores the need to consider root system architecture in agricultural strategies, as it plays a crucial role in influencing microbial communities and enzyme activities, ultimately affecting carbon and nutrient cycling processes in top- and subsoil.

An electrochemical aptasensor based on C-ZIF-67@PAN nanofibers for detection of ampicillin in milk.

C-ZIF-67@PAN nanofibers are prepared as an active material for ampicillin (AMP) detection. Metal organic frameworks (MOFs) can provide larger specific surface area and more binding sites. The PAN fiber in the further carbonization process can make ZIF-67 orderly arranged, enhance the conductivity of the material, and make the response more sensitive. Gold nanoparticles are incorporated into the material, and the aptamer is closely combined with the material by using the Au-S bond to further enhance the conductivity of the material. Under optimized conditions, the sensor has a wide detection range (0.001-100 μM) and a low detection limit (0.67 nM). In addition, the C-ZIF-67@PAN@Au@Apta sensor is successfully applied to AMP residues in milk samples with a recovery rate of 92.77-101.95%.

Enhancing the water resistance properties of bamboo particleboard by reconstructing lignocellulose through carbonization treatment

Bamboo particleboards are recognized as a highly promising alternative to traditional wood particleboards owing to their short growth cycle, abundant availability, and exceptional mechanical properties. However, bamboo particleboards frequently exhibit undesirable hygroscopicity, which limits their broader applications. This study introduces a straightforward and inhibitor-free carbonization treatment method to enhance the water resistance properties of bamboo particleboards. During the carbonization process, the degradation of hemicelluloses and amorphous cellulose, combined with the condensation reactions among lignin molecules, leads to a significant reduction in the hydrophilic hydroxyl and carbonyl group content, resulting in a more compact micro-fibril structure. Concurrently, the degradation of specific macromolecules within the cell wall facilitates the crushing of bamboo during particleboard pressing, thereby reducing the macroscopic pore size between the particles in the board. When compared to the original bamboo particleboard, the moisture absorption, 24-h water absorption (at a relative humidity of 50 %), 24-h thickness swelling, and bound water content of the deep carbon bamboo particleboard decreased by 32.28 %, 81.57 %, 67.16 %, and 66.7 %, respectively, while the water contact angle increased by 88.89 %.

A review of the effects of environmental photochemical processes of black carbon: mechanisms, challenges, and perspective

A review of the effects of environmental photochemical processes of black carbon: mechanisms, challenges, and perspective

Enhancing the water use efficiency model predictions for Platycladus orientalis and Quercus variabilis: Integrating the dynamics of carbon dioxide concentration and soil water availability.

Water use efficiency (WUE) is a tracer for plants on the trade-off exchange of water and carbon dioxide between terrestrial ecosystems and the atmosphere; therefore, a dynamic investigation of WUE and its driving factors will be of great significance to optimize water and carbon fitness and predict the plants' response to climate change. In our study, a modified water use efficiency model was proposed to improve the quantification of carbon and water processes by adding a photosynthesis-gs simulation dependent on CO2 concentration and soil moisture to the photosynthetic transpiration model (noted as SMPTSB model). Actual measured water use efficiencies were respectively obtained by the gas exchange measurements (WUEge) and the δ13CWSC that defined as the carbon-heavy isotope of the water-soluble compound in leaves (WUEwsc) of three-year tree saplings of Platycladus orientalis (L.) Franco and Quercus variabilis Blume, which were cultured in an orthogonal treatment consisting of four ambient CO2 concentrations ([CO2]) and five soil volumetric water contents (SWC). Direct comparisons of the modeled and measured stomatal conductance and WUE further indicated that the modified WUE model makes carbon assimilation, stomatal conductance and WUE more sensitive to [CO2] and soil moisture. From this, the enhancement of WUE in P. orientalis and Q. variabilis saplings is expected to occur when the ambient CO2 concentration increases to 600ppm - 700ppm and the appropriate SWC reaches 60% to 80% of the field capacity for potted soil. In general, the water use efficiency model that accounts for the synergistic effects of environmental CO2 concentration and soil moisture can accurately identify the corresponding thresholds for the optimal efficiency of carbon and water use of vegetation, which is expected to provide a theoretical basis for predicting the corresponding forest management practices to address future climate change.

Microbially mediated iron redox processes for carbon and nitrogen removal from wastewater: Recent advances.

Iron is the most abundant redox-active metal on Earth. The microbially mediated iron redox processes, including dissimilatory iron reduction (DIR), ammonium oxidation coupled with Fe(III) reduction (Feammox), Fe(III) dependent anaerobic oxidation of methane (Fe(III)-AOM), nitrate-reducing Fe(II) oxidation (NDFO), and Fe(II) dependent dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (Fe(II)-DNRA), play important parts in carbon and nitrogen biogeochemical cycling globally. In this review, the reaction mechanisms, electron transfer pathways, functional microorganisms, and characteristics of these processes are summarized; the prospective applications for carbon and nitrogen removal from wastewater are reviewed and discussed; and the research gaps and future directions of these processes for the treatment of wastewater are also underlined. This review is expected to give new insights into the development of economic and environmentally friendly iron-based wastewater treatment procedures.

A comprehensive synergistic study of process parameters on co-hydrothermal carbonization of digested sewage sludge and sugarcane bagasse: Hydrochar yield, lead adsorption capacity, and physicochemical properties

The hydrothermal carbonization approach applies to waste management, clean water supply, and the creation of valuable materials. An appropriate adsorbent using bagasse and sewage sludge was synthesized via co-hydrothermal carbonization for efficient lead removal. The effect of process parameters on adsorption capacity, hydrochar yield, and synergistic properties was thoroughly examined. Results showed that sensitive positive adsorption synergy occurred at higher sludge/bagasse ratios, while moderate positive and negative yield synergy was achieved at lower and higher temperatures, respectively. Due to the co-hydrothermal carbonization process, the maximum experimental adsorption capacity increased from 105 to 140 mg/g compared to the predicted value. In addition, during the first 10 min of adsorption, mean adsorption speeds of 108 mg/g and 75 mg/g were achieved for experimental and predicted values, respectively. Moreover, at an equilibrium concentration of 0.5 mg/g, the experimental equilibrium adsorption capacity increased from 42.2 to 98.3 mg/g compared to the expected value. This foundational research provides basic information on the adsorption ability of hydrochar in the co-hydrothermal carbonization process and presents an environmentally friendly approach to waste management and clean water supply.

Preparation of nitrogen-doped lignin porous carbon using low dosage KHCO3 for efficient methylene blue adsorption: Activation mechanism and adsorption performance

The previous requirement for activation of porous carbon adsorbents commonly exceeded several times the mass of the carbon precursor. Therefore, it was crucial to develop cost-effective and efficient carbon adsorbent materials for long-term environmental remediation. In this study, biorefinery lignin was utilized to fabricate porous carbon with an ultrahigh specific surface area (3423 m2 g−1) and pore volume (1.52 cm3 g−1) by employing melamine as the nitrogen source and a low dosage of KHCO3 as the activator. Multiple activations during the carbonization process contributed to the exceptional characteristics of the porous carbon, including well-developed pore structure, high specific surface area, and reasonable nitrogen doping. The porous carbon demonstrated remarkable adsorption capabilities with a maximum methylene blue (MB) adsorption capacity of 1457 mg g−1. Structural characterization conducted before and after adsorption revealed that electrostatic interactions, pore filling, hydrogen bonding, and π-π stacking were among the main mechanisms employed by lignin porous carbon for effective MB adsorption. The proposed method is a simple, green, highly efficient, and environmentally friendly approach that can be applied to treat lignin from various industrial sources. It provides valuable insights into the development of advanced carbon materials suitable for adsorption and capacitor applications.

Properties, phases and microstructure evolution of blended cement containing BOF slag: Effect of two-step carbonation process

Properties, phases and microstructure evolution of blended cement containing BOF slag: Effect of two-step carbonation process

Novel approach to achieving net-zero carbon emissions for development and utilization of coal: Principle, methods, and cost estimation.

China's energy mix is coal-dominated; therefore, it is unrealistic for the country to achieve carbon neutrality through complete decarbonization. As the world's largest carbon emitter, achieving global carbon reduction targets necessitates that China develops low-carbon, clean, safe, and efficient coal development and utilization technologies. This study proposes a new low-carbon coal development and utilization method that integrates in-situ conversion mining and mineral carbonation (ICMMC) to realize coal mining and separation, in-situ backfilling, in-situ conversion, energy storage, and carbon sequestration. This method addresses the technical bottleneck of slow mineral carbonation (MC) reaction rates that hinder the application of low-cost carbon sequestration engineering by utilizing in-situ backfilling strips to construct an in-situ carbonation repository, alongside a complementary in-situ layered carbonation process to enhance carbon sequestration efficiency. Life cycle assessment and levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) are employed to analyze the competitiveness and necessity of this new method compared to coal-fired power with carbon capture and sequestration (CPCCS) and onshore wind power with energy storage (OWPES) technologies. The results indicate that the carbon emissions of the ICMMC (0.091kg/kWh) are much lower than those of traditional coal-fired power, and its LCOE of 0.463 CNY/kWh has a cost advantage compared to both CPCCS and OWPES over the next seven years. The findings suggest that the ICMMC system can partially replace CPCCS and OWPES, helping to reduce global carbon reduction pressure; it can serve as a transition technology that supports the decarbonization of energy systems in countries where coal is the primary energy source.

Adding labile carbon to peatland soils triggers deep carbon breakdown

Peatlands store vast amounts of carbon, with deep peat carbon remaining stable due to limited thermodynamic energy and transport. However, climate change-induced increases in labile carbon inputs could destabilize these stores. Here, we combined DNA stable isotope probing with stable isotope-assisted metabolomics employing a multi-platform approach to investigate microbial dynamics driving deep peat carbon degradation upon labile carbon (e.g., glucose) amendment. Our findings highlight the vulnerability of deep peat carbon, as glucose addition triggers the breakdown of older organic matter. By uniquely integrating these techniques, we identified active glucose metabolizers to specific microbial populations and mapped carbon flow through microbial networks, elucidating their role in priming recalcitrant carbon mineralization. This multi-omics approach offers crucial insights into how changing resources reshape the peatland microbiome, enhancing our understanding of deep carbon processing, and refining model parameterization to predict microbial responses and carbon cycle feedbacks under global change pressures.

The GrassSyn dataset: Soil organic carbon stocks in Brazilian grassy ecosystems.

Although ecosystem management and restoration are known to enhance carbon storage, limited knowledge of ecosystem-specific soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks and processes hinders the development of climate-ready, biodiversity-focused policies. Baseline SOC stocks data for specific ecosystems is essential. This paper aims to: (i) examine SOC stock variability across major grassy ecosystems in Brazil and (ii) discuss data limitations and applications. We compiled the Grassland Synthesis Working Group dataset, which comprehensively aggregates SOC stocks data from published studies on main Brazil's grassy ecosystems. Our dataset results from systematic literature review and regional soil sampling datasets. The dataset provides spatially explicit SOC stocks, physical soil properties, and ancillary information from 182 studies (1996-2021) across 803 sites, spanning 35° latitude and 28° longitude. The dataset, structured in relational tables, reports soil C stocks and ancillary soil parameters at depths up to 100cm. SOC stocks vary by grassy ecosystem types and sampling depth, with subtropical grasslands (Campos Gerais, South Brazilian highland grasslands, and Pampa) showing the highest SOC stocks across all depth layers (SOC 0-30cm: 64.5-162.8 Mg C ha-1; SOC 0-100cm: 137.6-224.7 Mg C ha-1). The tropical Cerrado and Amazon grassy ecosystems exhibit high SOC stocks, particularly in subsurface layers (SOC 0-30cm: 53.6 and 38.3 Mg C ha-1; SOC 0-100cm: 109.8 and 121.4 Mg C ha-1, respectively). Our data analysis shows high carbon stocks in natural/seminatural ecosystems, but some ecosystems are undersampled. The dataset on SOC stocks in grassy ecosystems could greatly aid Brazil's national greenhouse gas inventory.

Carbon Dots from Pre‐Existing Nanoparticles Versus Carbonization: Similarity and Difference in Sample Structure‐Morphology with Property and Mechanistic Consequences

Carbon dots (CDots) are classically synthesized by organic functionalization of pre‐existing small carbon nanoparticles, but most of the dot samples reported in the literature are prepared by thermal carbonization processing of selected organic precursors. Highlighted and discussed in this article are the necessity of using proper thermal processing conditions for the carbonization produced samples to be CDots like, the similarities and differences in sample structure and morphology between the two kinds of dot samples, and their associated property and mechanistic consequences.

Determination of carbonation rate of precipitated calcium carbonate in carbonation process based on headspace gas chromatography.

This paper reports a method for determining the carbonation rate (CR) of precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) during carbonation process based on headspace gas chromatography technique. The method was carried out by simultaneously detecting the signal values of carbon dioxide and oxygen. Then the carbonation rate of precipitated calcium carbonate in the carbonation process can be calculated by the ratio (γ) of carbon dioxide to oxygen based on a new mathematical model. The results showed that the employed method has good precision (the relative standard deviation < 5 %) and accuracy under the optimized equilibrium temperature and time (60 °C and 10 min). The method is simple and has a large measurable range, which can be an reliable tool for determining the carbonation rate in the carbonation process of PCC.

Synthesis and characterization of corn cob activated carbon for Pb(II) adsorption with real-time monitoring using Internet of Things

Abstract Here, we investigate the adsorption of Pb(II) using AC derived from corn Rachis (RAC) with various carbonization temperatures: 500°C, 700°C, and 900°C using KOH solution as the activator. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis revealed the presence of hydroxyl and carbonyl functional groups and optical-dielectric function change under the carbonization process. X-ray Diffraction (XRD) patterns confirmed the presence of (002) and (100) lattice planes, indicating a graphitic phase with amorphous area (X_a) domination. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) images showed a honeycomb-like morphology, while Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis indicated a carbon content of over 90%. Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis shows the high specific surface area of each sample (&gt;1000 m2/g). The highest Pb(II) adsorption efficiency was achieved at 99.77%, with maximum performance at pH = 7.31, and temperature ~26.7℃, supported by the narrowing phonon vibration (Δ(LO-TO), lower electron loss function (ELF) shifts in wavenumber, higher X_a, and confirmed through adsorption kinetic and isotherm study. Here, we demonstrate a fresh methodology based on real-time monitoring using the Internet of Things of RAC as a promising adsorbent for Pb(II) removal with an adsorption capacity of 2.598 mg/g. In addition, the ability of adsorption results without stirring aids to determine their ability when applied to the environment has been studied.

Characterization of Sunflower Waste Carbonization: Energy Balance and Water Holding Properties

This paper characterizes the carbonization process of biomass wastes, including sunflower husk pellets and sunflower sponge stalk pellets, at carbonization temperatures of 450 and 550 °C. These studies are important because of the reductions in wood resources for the preparation of barbecue charcoal, as well as agricultural benefits in terms of soil additives. In terms of energy balance, the obtained pyrolysis ensures the autothermal process. The heating characteristics of fixed bed showed that, due to the difference in bulk density, the bed temperature of the sunflower husk pellets reached 450 °C in 110 min, whereas the bed temperature of the sunflower stalk sponge reached the same temperature in 200 min. Additionally, the energy used for the sunflower husk carbonization increased from 2.9 kWh at 450 °C to 3.3 kWh at 550 °C, while the sunflower stalk sponge increased from 3.5 to 3.9 kWh. The combustion characteristics assessed using TGA showed that the carbonization of sunflower husk leads to obtained biochar with a higher combustion activity than biochar derived from sunflower stalk sponge. According to the experimental results, biochar from sunflower husk pellets has a higher water content capacity and water absorption rate than biochar from sunflower stalk sponge pellets.

Global CO2 uptake by cement materials accounts 1930–2023

The majority of the carbon footprint of the cement industry originates from the decomposition of alkaline carbonates during clinker production. Recent studies have demonstrated that calcium oxides and other alkaline oxides in cement materials can sequester CO2 through the carbonation process and partially offset the carbon emissions generated during cement production. This study employs a comprehensive analytical model to estimate the CO2 uptake via hydrated cement carbonation, including concrete, mortar, construction waste, and cement kiln dust (CKD), covering major cement production and consumption regions worldwide from 1930 to 2023. In 2023, the global annual cement CO2 uptake reached 0.93 Gt/yr (95% CI: 0.80–1.13Gt/yr). From 1930 to 2023, the global cumulative cement CO2 absorption reached 23.89 Gt (95% CI: 20.47–28.74 Gt), equivalent to 52.32% of the CO2 process emissions from cement production during the same period. Our system for estimating cement emissions and uptake is updated annually, providing consistent and accurate data for the cement industry and carbon cycle studies. This data supports improved adaptation to future challenges.

Estimating CO2 flows in urban parks: knowns and unknowns

The life cycle climate impacts of urban parks are poorly known. Whereas vegetation and soils can be carbon sinks, building products, energy use, and processes cause emissions. Several studies acknowledge the need for further assessment of urban parks, especially regarding vegetation, soil organic carbon, management and design, together with the development of supportive tools for climate-wise planning. To deepen our understanding of carbon flows of urban parks, we applied life cycle assessment (LCA) and studied the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and removals of five urban parks in Helsinki, Finland. The components of the parks were divided into four categories: site preparation, covering and surface structures, vegetation and growing media, and systems and installations. According to our findings, CO2 emissions ranged from 27.08 to 61.45 kgCO2e/m2 and CO2 removals from 11.35 to 16.23 kgCO2e/m2 with uncertainty. Planted woody vegetation and existing forested areas had the highest CO2 uptake among the vegetation types. Moreover, growing media caused on average 35% of total CO2 emissions. As significant volumes of growing media remain necessary to support the growth and establishment of plantings, finding less emission intensive alternatives to peat-based growing medium becomes essential. Other main emissions sources included transportation, and replacements of surface materials, but their dominance is highly dependent on the design, use and maintenance of the park. LCA offers a robust assessment framework for the quantification of greenhouse gas emissions and is evolving towards the including of greenhouse gas removals and storages. However, the inclusion of living organisms would require changes in the mindset of LCA. The level of maturity in the assessment methods differs significantly between the park components. Data and methods are especially lacking for nursery production, maintenance and end-of-life phases of vegetation, soils, and mulches. We also identified uncertainties regarding the estimations of CO2 uptake by woody vegetation, lawns, and meadows due to software limitations and lack of data for local context. Simulating dynamic plantings raises additional questions, together with the forecast of accurate meteorological conditions of a changing climate. This research highlights the need for more holistic life cycle assessment of urban parks to inform low-carbon landscape industries.