Article: Synthesis of activated carbon from coffee husks and its effect on CO2 capture and CH4 and H2 storage Journal: International Journal of Environment and Pollution (IJEP) 2025 Vol.75 No.3 pp.187 - 204 Abstract: This work presents the synthesis of activated carbons from coffee husk pre- treated with steam explosion. The influence of the impregnation ratio (H3PO4/precursor) and impregnation time was evaluated. The synthesised materials were characterised by N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms at 77 K and CO2 adsorption at 273 K, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and Raman spectroscopy. These techniques confirmed the success of activated carbons from the coffee industry waste. Two selected activated carbons were further evaluated for their CO2, CH4, and H2 adsorption capacities at 308 K, 298 K, and 77 K, respectively, under pressures of up to 10 bar. CA-1 and CA-5 exhibited promising H2adsorption capacities, comparable to values reported. These findings open up new possibilities for developing porous carbon- based activated materials for advanced gas separation applications. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Synthesis of activated carbon from coffee husks and its effect on CO₂ capture and CH₄ and H₂ storage

Authors: Cristian Toncón-Leal; Kiara Montiel-Centeno; Cristian Diaz; Deicy Barrera; Jhonny Villarroel-Rocha; Liliana Trevani; Laura Conde; Karim Sapag

Addresses: Instituto de Física Aplicada, Universidad Nacional de San Luis, Ejército de los Andes 950, 5700, Argentina ' Instituto de Física Aplicada, Universidad Nacional de San Luis, Ejército de los Andes 950, 5700, Argentina ' Instituto de Física Aplicada, Universidad Nacional de San Luis, Ejército de los Andes 950, 5700, Argentina ' Instituto de Física Aplicada, Universidad Nacional de San Luis, Ejército de los Andes 950, 5700, Argentina ' Instituto de Física Aplicada, Universidad Nacional de San Luis, Ejército de los Andes 950, 5700, Argentina ' Instituto de Física Aplicada, Ontario Tech University, Oshawa, Ontario, L1G 0C5, Canada ' Chemical and Environmental Engineering Department, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, 111231, Colombia ' Instituto de Física Aplicada, Universidad Nacional de San Luis, Ejército de los Andes 950, 5700, Argentina

Abstract: This work presents the synthesis of activated carbons from coffee husk pre- treated with steam explosion. The influence of the impregnation ratio (H₃PO₄/precursor) and impregnation time was evaluated. The synthesised materials were characterised by N₂ adsorption-desorption isotherms at 77 K and CO₂ adsorption at 273 K, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and Raman spectroscopy. These techniques confirmed the success of activated carbons from the coffee industry waste. Two selected activated carbons were further evaluated for their CO₂, CH₄, and H₂ adsorption capacities at 308 K, 298 K, and 77 K, respectively, under pressures of up to 10 bar. CA-1 and CA-5 exhibited promising H₂adsorption capacities, comparable to values reported. These findings open up new possibilities for developing porous carbon- based activated materials for advanced gas separation applications.

Keywords: activated carbon; sustainable adsorbent materials; high-pressure adsorption; carbon dioxide capture; methane and hydrogen storage; biomass valorisation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2025.150812

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2025 Vol.75 No.3, pp.187 - 204

Received: 07 Apr 2024
Accepted: 21 Jul 2025
Published online: 23 Dec 2025 *

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Title: Synthesis of activated carbon from coffee husks and its effect on CO2 capture and CH4 and H2 storage

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Title: Synthesis of activated carbon from coffee husks and its effect on CO₂ capture and CH₄ and H₂ storage