The catalytic potential of activated carbon materials in biodiesel production is a highly significant research area within environmental chemistry. Activated carbon (AC), known for its exceptional adsorption capacity, cost-effectiveness, abundant availability, large surface area, customizable pore structure, hydrophobic nature, and energy-efficient regeneration, has attracted considerable attention for environmental applications. Notably, ACs derived from agricultural sources have demonstrated a strong affinity for diverse adsorbates. Typically, activated carbon is prepared through physical (heating) and chemical (acids/bases) methods, with some instances combining both approaches. However, researchers have sought to extend the applicability of ACs beyond adsorption by employing surface modification techniques such as metal impregnation and oxidation. These modifications enhance the physicochemical characteristics of ACs and significantly elevate their catalytic potential. The incorporation of metals onto the AC surface is believed to confer catalytic properties to the resulting "adsorbent" material, offering promising prospects for catalytic applications of tailored ACs.
While the environmental applications of AC are well-established, particular attention should be given to optimizing the treatment of AC surfaces. This optimization promotes superior physicochemical characteristics of the derived ACs and their derivatives, thereby enabling expanded applications. Chemical, physical, and/or biological treatments can be employed to modify the surface characteristics of AC. These treatments result in increased surface active sites, additional functional groups, expanded surface area, and enhanced reactivity of the AC surface. The resultant physicochemical modifications further bolster the applications of AC, particularly in catalytic processes.
With global debates centering on the energy crisis and the need to combat global warming stemming from excessive fossil fuel usage, the exploration of alternative energy sources has become imperative. Biodiesel, which exhibits clean-burning properties, low sulfur and aromatic contents, high cetane number, and lubricity, has emerged as a promising alternative. Furthermore, biodiesel effectively reduces greenhouse gas emissions, is biodegradable, renewable, and compatible with conventional ignition engines. The catalytic transesterification of edible or non-edible oils in the presence of alcohol yields fatty acid methyl esters, commonly known as biodiesel, along with glycerin.
The extensive array of applications derived from AC and its surface-tailored derivatives have found relevance in various sectors, including environmental, energy, health, and electronics, among others. This research collection aims to explore several themes of interest, encompassing but not limited to:
• Investigating the catalytic potential of activated carbon and surface-modified ACs.
• Exploring AC-based catalytic systems for biodiesel production.
• Strategies to enhance and optimize the catalytic potential of ACs.
• Exploring techniques for catalyst system regeneration.
• Optimization of ACs' catalytic efficacy.
• Evaluating the environmental friendliness of the adapted protocols.
• Uncovering new avenues for harnessing the catalytic potential of ACs.
This Research Topic invites results in the form of full length original articles, technical reviews and short communications.
Keywords:
activated carbon; characterization; impregnation; catalytic applications; biodiesel; regeneration
Important Note:
All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
The catalytic potential of activated carbon materials in biodiesel production is a highly significant research area within environmental chemistry. Activated carbon (AC), known for its exceptional adsorption capacity, cost-effectiveness, abundant availability, large surface area, customizable pore structure, hydrophobic nature, and energy-efficient regeneration, has attracted considerable attention for environmental applications. Notably, ACs derived from agricultural sources have demonstrated a strong affinity for diverse adsorbates. Typically, activated carbon is prepared through physical (heating) and chemical (acids/bases) methods, with some instances combining both approaches. However, researchers have sought to extend the applicability of ACs beyond adsorption by employing surface modification techniques such as metal impregnation and oxidation. These modifications enhance the physicochemical characteristics of ACs and significantly elevate their catalytic potential. The incorporation of metals onto the AC surface is believed to confer catalytic properties to the resulting "adsorbent" material, offering promising prospects for catalytic applications of tailored ACs.
While the environmental applications of AC are well-established, particular attention should be given to optimizing the treatment of AC surfaces. This optimization promotes superior physicochemical characteristics of the derived ACs and their derivatives, thereby enabling expanded applications. Chemical, physical, and/or biological treatments can be employed to modify the surface characteristics of AC. These treatments result in increased surface active sites, additional functional groups, expanded surface area, and enhanced reactivity of the AC surface. The resultant physicochemical modifications further bolster the applications of AC, particularly in catalytic processes.
With global debates centering on the energy crisis and the need to combat global warming stemming from excessive fossil fuel usage, the exploration of alternative energy sources has become imperative. Biodiesel, which exhibits clean-burning properties, low sulfur and aromatic contents, high cetane number, and lubricity, has emerged as a promising alternative. Furthermore, biodiesel effectively reduces greenhouse gas emissions, is biodegradable, renewable, and compatible with conventional ignition engines. The catalytic transesterification of edible or non-edible oils in the presence of alcohol yields fatty acid methyl esters, commonly known as biodiesel, along with glycerin.
The extensive array of applications derived from AC and its surface-tailored derivatives have found relevance in various sectors, including environmental, energy, health, and electronics, among others. This research collection aims to explore several themes of interest, encompassing but not limited to:
• Investigating the catalytic potential of activated carbon and surface-modified ACs.
• Exploring AC-based catalytic systems for biodiesel production.
• Strategies to enhance and optimize the catalytic potential of ACs.
• Exploring techniques for catalyst system regeneration.
• Optimization of ACs' catalytic efficacy.
• Evaluating the environmental friendliness of the adapted protocols.
• Uncovering new avenues for harnessing the catalytic potential of ACs.
This Research Topic invites results in the form of full length original articles, technical reviews and short communications.
Keywords:
activated carbon; characterization; impregnation; catalytic applications; biodiesel; regeneration
Important Note:
All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.