SURFACE MODIFICATION OF A SOLID CARBON BYPRODUCT GENERATED BY METHANE PYROLYSIS FOR WATER TREATMENT APPLICATIONS

Methane pyrolysis, which is a common process for hydrogen production, generates large volumes of solid carbonaceous byproduct (SCB). SCB has similar physiochemical properties to commercially available carbon black. The use of methane pyrolysis is projected to grow, as hydrogen is among the most promising clean energy sources to mitigate CO₂ emissions and climate change. In this study, we assess potential applications of SCB for water treatment by analyzing commercially available carbon black. To do so, the porosity, specific surface area, and pore size distribution of carbon black are determined, and various chemical modification methods are used to functionalize the surface of the carbon black to make them more reactive towards two model ions, cadmium and selenate. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis is used to visualize the surface of carbon black before and after acid and base treatments. Experimental results indicate that both acid and base treatments enhance the density of proton-active functional groups on the carbon black surface, and improve cadmium and selenate removal from aqueous solution. We found that acid treatment induces more oxygen functional groups on the surface of carbon black and increases the cadmium removal solution, while treatment with base leads to higher selenate removal from solution. Our results of cadmium and selenate removal from solution provide a baseline for potential applications of SCB generated by the methane pyrolysis process for water treatment.