Amir Abbas Izadpanah

The increase in the concentration of greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide (〖CO〗_2), has become a major challenge in environmental and climate change issues in recent years. This study investigates the production of activated carbon from waste ion exchange resins (WIERs) and evaluates their performance in 〖CO〗_2 adsorption. In this research, two types of waste ion exchange resins, cationic (Amberjet 1500H) and anionic (Amberjet 4400OH), were used as precursors for the synthesis of activated carbon. The chemical activation process was conducted using two activating agents, KOH and ₃PO₄ , at 700°C with activator-to-resin ratios of 3:1 and 1:1. The synthesized samples were subjected to 〖CO〗_2 adsorption tests, and the adsorption data were analyzed using appropriate models. The surface characteristics of the samples were determined using BET analysis, and surface functional groups were identified. The results showed that the activated carbon derived from cationic resins, especially the samples activated with KOH, performed better in 〖CO〗_2 adsorption than those activated with H₃PO₄. Sample number 16 and 32 (cationic) and sample number 15 and 7 (anion) exhibited the best 〖CO〗_2 adsorption performance. Finally, the findings of this study demonstrate that utilizing waste ion exchange resins for the production of activated carbon is not only environmentally and economically beneficial but also presents a promising alternative to expensive commercial adsorbents for 〖CO〗_2 removal processes in industrial scale. This research significantly highlights the potential of utilizing waste materials for activated carbon production and their role in reducing greenhouse gases.