Regeneration of biobased adsorbents, utilization of regeneration solution and used adsorbents

Researcher

Minja Korhonen, Doctoral researcher, University of Oulu

Supervisor

Assoc. Prof. Sari Tuomikoski, D.Sc. Hanna Runtti and Prof. Ulla Lassi, Research Unit of Sustainable Chemistry, University of Oulu

Description of the project:

The aim of this research is to develop the usage of biobased material as alternative adsorbents. Biobased materials such as biochar, can replace widely used activated carbon material. Activated carbon consumes a lot of carbon dioxide emissions and costs while regeneration processes. Therefore, there is a need to develop cheap, easy and eco-friendly method for chemical regeneration. Based on the results, materials that support the circular economy and sustainability, can be used more widely in water purification. In addition, finding out the change of functional groups between adsorption-desorption cycles, gives excellent opportunities to target the regeneration more efficiently and selectively to the desired impurity. Also, different kind of materials such as industrial side-stream-based adsorbents are studied in this work. Together these research results can create a possibility for the cheap adsorbent production from waste material, but also the capability of recycling the material afterwards in sustainable way locally in Finland.