Waste materials conversion into mesoporous silicon carbide nanocermics: Nanofibre/particle mixture. (20th July 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Maroufi, Samane; Mayyas, Mohannad; Sahajwalla, Veena
• Is Part Of: Journal of cleaner production. Volume 157(2017)
• Page Start: 213
• Page End: 221
• Publication Date: 2017-07-20
• Subjects: Waste tyre rubber -- E-waste glass -- SiC nanofibers -- Carbothermal reduction; Factory and trade waste -- Management -- Periodicals; Manufactures -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Déchets industriels -- Gestion -- Périodiques; Usines -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; 628.5
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.04.109
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0959-6526

Abstract

Abstract: This study confirms a sustainable and clean new approach for synthesizing a mesoporous silicon carbide (SiC) nanofibre/particle composite from a binary mixture of two problematic, high volume global waste streams, e-waste glass (SiO2 source) and waste tyre rubber (WTR) through the carbothermal reduction. The resulting composite material consisted of a mixture of nanofibres of 10–150 nm diameters and over 5 microns length, and distributed nanoparticles with particle size ranging between 30 and 40 nm with a relatively high surface area (85.1–67.3 m 2 g −1 ) and a dominant pore size smaller than 2 nm. SiC of nanomaterials is conventionally fabricated from high quality carbon and silicon sources which are expensive and may not prove cost effective from industrial perspective. E-waste glass and waste tyres are both potential sources of valuable secondary resources, but a lack of cost-effective recycling options means vast volumes are landfilled, stockpiled or diverted to unsafe processing operations in developing countries; posing serious environmental and health risks. The simultaneous conversion of two globally significant waste burdens into (SiC) nanofibre/particle composite has not previously been investigated. This novel approach highlights the opportunities for utilizing waste as an alternative resource to deliver economic and environmental benefits and also demonstrates a new low cost means of synthesizing SiC nanofibre/particle composite. Graphical abstract: Highlights: Synthesis of mesoporous silicon carbide nanofibre/particle composite from e-waste glass and waste tyre rubber. Nanofibres of 10–150 nm diameters, and nanoparticles with particle size ranging between 30–40 nm were obtained. Resulting composite had high surface area (85.1–67.3 m 2 .g −1 ) with a dominant pore size smaller than 2 nm.