Preparation and Characterization of Biochar and Activated carbon derived from Cashew Bagasse Waste

Biochar and Activated carbon derived from cashew bagasse waste (CBB and CBAC), are veritable materials produced from agro-waste. They are currently under-utilized owing to paucity of information in their recycling methods which reduces agricultural waste from the environment. This study investigates the use of under-utilized cashew bagasse waste in the production of biochar and activated carbon using pyrolysis and chemical activation methods, respectively. Cashew bagasse waste was pyrolysed at 4000C for 20mins at 100C/min. The biochar was chemically activated using 0.3M orthophosphoric acid (H3PO4) at an impregnation ratio of 1:2.36(w/w). It was heated at 1000C to form a paste and placed in a muffle furnace at 5000C for 30 mins. This was cooled and washed until pH was neutral. It was oven dried at 1050C for 24 hours to a constant weight to produce CBAC Characterization of CBB and CBAC for its pH, bulk density, and moisture content, dry matter, volatile matter, and fixed carbon were determined. FTIR and SEM analysis on CBB and CBAC was done to determine the functional groups and surface morphology, respectively. The Data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA at P value < 0.05. This study, therefore, revealed CBAC to have better characteristics than CB

Advances in graphene oxide based nanobiocatalytic technology for wastewater treatment

The continuous introduction of contaminated pollutants into water bodies through urbanization and industrialization has caused a severe treat to human and aquatic lives. The innovative development of effective materials to eliminate these pollutants from water bodies is an emerging area of research. Graphene oxide-based materials and their application in removing pollutants from wastewater is gaining attention recently due to their exceptional properties. Advancements towards the development and surface modification of graphene-oxide based materials have revealed their suitability as carriers for enzyme immobilization. Graphene-oxide based materials provide a suitable support for the immobilization of enzymes with different properties without compromising functionality, creating a novel nanobiocatalyst adsorbent platform for environmental remediation. This article discusses recent advances relating to the synthesis of graphene oxide, methods of enzyme immobilization, development of graphene-based carriers for enzyme immobilization, and the application of graphene-based nanobiocatalyst in environmental remediation. In addition, various parameters that affect the immobilization of enzymes on graphene-based substrate were also discussed. The article concludes the future prospects focusing on opportunities associated with multifaceted nanobiocatalyst

Recent advances in graphene-derived materials for biomedical waste treatment

Untreated biomedical wastes discharged into water bodies, primarily by hospitals and health care facilities; release a wide range of contaminants that poses danger to human health and environmental sustainability. Therefore, developing sustainable and dependable treatment methods for biomedical waste is a top priority. Nano-sized graphene is known to have excellent unique properties including high current density, optical, mechanical, thermal conductivity, high chemical stability, high surface area and chemical stability. Graphene-based nanomaterials and derivatives as a result of their excellent properties have received increased attention in wastewater treatment in recent years. Despite significant progress in the production of graphene at laboratory scale, there is a need to focus on green large-scale graphene synthesis to pave the way for adopting graphene-based technology on an industrial scale. In wastewater treatment, advanced development of pure graphene on various significant functionalization exhibits excellent adsorption efficiency when functionalized when compared to other alternatives. Top-down as well as bottom-up approaches such as chemical vapour deposition, and chemical exfoliation among other approaches can be used for graphene synthesis and functionalization. As a result, the benefits of graphene oxide-based nanomaterials have been unraveled in the treatment of biomedical wastewater. Adsorption and photocatalysis techniques have sparked widespread interest because they allow for the environmentally friendly treatment of biomedical wastewater, and significant progress has been made in recent years. This study examined the graphene synthesis method and the use of graphene oxide-based nanomaterials as adsorbents and photocatalysts in the treatment of biomedical waste. Furthermore, the recyclability, thermal stability, and future perspectives on the directions and difficulties in graphene-based material synthesis are summarized