Copyright @ 2001 Journal of New Materials for Electrochemical Systems All rights reserved.

Open Full Contents

Physical and Electrochemical Properties of a Carbon-based Material Produced from Paper Mill Sludge

Pages: 267-274

Nasrin R. Khalili¹, Marta Campbell¹, Giselle Sandi², Wenquan Lu¹, Igore V. Barsokov³

¹Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology, 10 W. 33rd Street, Chicago, IL 60616;
²Chemistry Division, Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 South Cass Ave, Argonne, IL 60439; ³Superior Graphite Co. 4201 W. 36th Street, Chicago, IL 60632

Received August 7, 2001 ; received in revised form October 23, 2001

Abstract: A pure, high surface area and cost-effective carbon-based material with possible application in electrochemical processes was synthesized from industrial sludge. The produced carbon was initially characterized to determine its purity and surface properties including surface area, pore volume, and pore diameter. Surface characterization used N₂-adsorption isotherm data and mathematical models such as the D-R equation, and BJH methods. The extent of the purity was assessed from Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA). The electrochemical properties, i.e. the potential use as electrode in Li ion batteries, were evaluated using conventional electrochemical testings such as charge/discharge and impedance spectroscopy. The results of the data analysis were promising and indicated that paper mill sludge can be successfully used to produce a pure, carbon for potential use in electrochemical applications. The reversible capacity obtained for the carbon were shown to be very close to that of a graphitic carbon commonly used in Li batteries, even though carbons surface properties are closer to that of an activated carbon.

Keywords: waste sludge, activated carbon, lithium ion batteries, chemical activation