Bio-Carbon Coil Aerogels from Tea Waste: A Sustainable Solution for Efficient Oil-Water Separation

Abstract

The discharge of wastewater containing oils, fats, and organic solvents into water bodies poses a significant threat to the already limited freshwater resources. In recent years, adsorption technology using three-dimensional (3D) porous adsorbent materials has gained attention due to its high separation effectiveness. However, existing aerogel materials suffer from poor mechanical strength, which limits their application in oil-water separation. To address this challenge, this study proposes the use of carbon coils obtained from tea waste as a template for producing low-cost, ultra-light, elastic, and highly recyclable bio-carbon coils aerogels(BCCA). The BCCA exhibited exceptional performance in oil-water separation applications. Specifically, it demonstrated a high adsorption capacity ranging from 32 to 117 g/g, excellent selectivity with a rapid adsorption time of approximately 30 seconds, and good reuse capability with an absorption efficiency of 85%. These remarkable properties can be attributed to the exceptional hydrophobicity of the BCCA, with a contact angle of 134°, and the rapid capillary action facilitated by the helical network structure. The novel use of tea waste-derived carbon coils as a precursor for the production of efficient and sustainable carbon coil aerogels presents a promising solution for environmental remediation, particularly in oil-water separation applications. This research not only addresses the issue of wastewater contamination but also contributes to the utilization of tea waste, a readily available and abundant biomass resource, in the development of value-added materials for environmental sustainability.

Keywords: Carbon Aerogels, oil-water separation, Carbon Coil, Tea Waste, Biomass-drived.