Synthesis, Characterization, and Application of Tangerine Peel-Derived Activated Biocarbons for Removal of the Environmental Gas Pollutant.

Two types of biocarbons were synthesized from biomass activated with KOH and CO2, using tangerine peel as the carbon precursor. The obtained activated materials were characterized in terms of their surface and structural properties by means of N2 adsorption-desorption analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Boehm titration method, biocarbon surface pH, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), Raman spectroscopy, elemental composition (CHNS), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Additionally, the adsorption performance and ammonia desorption were determined using temperature-programmed desorption (TPD). The study confirmed that tangerine peel is an inexpensive and sustainable raw material for producing porous biocarbons with a well-developed surface area and favorable sorption characteristics. The prepared activated carbons exhibited specific surface areas ranging from 146 to 1681 m2 g-1. The results demonstrated that the synthesized materials show strong potential as effective adsorbents for ammonia removal and can be applied in the purification of environments contaminated with gaseous pollutants. Processing the tangerine waste (peel) into porous structures (biocarbons) is an effective approach to waste biomass management and at the same time provides a promising route for the development of low-cost and efficient materials for applications in environmentally friendly technologies.