Cotton Waste to Activated Carbon: Structural Characterization

IJEP 46(7): 652-661 : Vol. 46 Issue 7 (July 2026)

Full Text

Jyoti Bala, Shabnam Kamboj, Rajesh Kumar Lohchab* and Mikhlesh Kumari

Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology, Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Hisar – 125 001, Haryana, India

Abstract

Cotton agro-waste was used as a precursor to synthesize activated carbon via both physical (steam) and chemical (H3PO4) activation methods. After initial carbonization, steam activation was performed at 500–800°C, whereas chemical activation was carried out with phosphoric acid at impregnation ratios of 1:1, 1:2 and 1:3 within the same temperature range. SEM-EDX, FTIR and XRD analyses were conducted to evaluate morphological, elemental and structural changes. SEM images confirmed a well-developed porous structure in both physically and chemically activated carbons, though the chemical method produced a more ordered and abundant pore network. FTIR analysis revealed that chemically activated samples contained a broader range of functional groups, enhancing surface reactivity. XRD analysis indicated a more pronounced structural transformation in chemically activated samples, suggesting a greater degree of amorphous carbon and microstructural disorder, which are favourable for adsorption applications. Raman spectroscopy was used to estimate the degree of graphitization. This study supports SDGs 12, 13, 6 and 9 by transforming cotton agro-waste into activated carbon, promoting waste valourization and sustainable production and advancing the circular economy and green chemistry principles.

Keywords

Cotton waste, Agrowaste, Circular economy, Activated carbon, Biowaste

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