Obtaining Activated Carbon by Microwave Activation from the Solid Waste Generated in the Pyrolysis Process of Used Tires

Abstract:

The aim of this research is to obtain activated carbon from the solid residue generated in the pyrolysis process of used tires, using microwave technology for its activation. In the first phase, the tires were subjected to thermal pyrolysis at 575°C to obtain a carbonaceous residue (CR). This residue was then activated using potassium hydroxide (KOH) in a 1:3 ratio and exposed to a conventional microwave oven at a power of 700 W for 3 minutes without pauses, obtaining activated carbon (AC) as a result. To evaluate the adsorption capacity, tests were conducted with both carbons (CR and AC) using three concentrations of carbon, with a contact time of 300 minutes and agitation at 400 RPM. The results showed that CR achieved a maximum adsorption of 57.13% at a concentration of 0.2 g, while AC exhibited values greater than 90%. It is concluded that microwave activation is an effective and cost-efficient process to convert the carbonaceous residue from used tire pyrolysis into an adsorbent material with high arsenic removal capacity.

• Periodical: Materials Science Forum (Volume 1181)
• Pages: 99-104
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/p-KGhS4O
• Online since: March 2026
• Authors: Yvet Loayza-Del Carpio, Jonathan Almirón, Maria Fernanda Palomino-Cervantes, Yosheff Ortiz-Valdivia, Grace Acevedo-Obando, Ronald Rosales-Meza, Danny Tupayachy-Quispe*
• Keywords: Activated Carbon, Arsenic Removal, Pyrolysis, Used Tires

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