Iran-Made Molecular Sieve Using Walnut Skin Able to Remove Carbon Monoxide

The researchers came from the Islamic Azad University, North Tehran Branch; the Islamic Azad University, Damavand Branch; the Oil Industry Research Institute of Tehran; and the Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute.

The studies showed that the carbon molecular sieve made of walnut skin has the ability to absorb and reduce carbon monoxide, which is considered one of the main environmental pollutants.

Using walnut skin, which is mostly thrown away, the researchers made a type of molecular sieve that can absorb and collect the polluting carbon monoxide gas from the atmosphere.

Absorption and separation processes play an important role in various industries. 

In this regard, much research has been done on the absorption and separation of gases by various adsorbent materials such as zeolite, activated carbon, carbon nanotubes, and carbon molecular sieves.

Carbon molecular sieves are an important alternative for gas separation because of their ease of manufacture, high selectivity, high permeance, and high resistance to acidic and basic media.

Such materials will present clear advantages when used in energy-storage devices.

Agricultural wastes are the most suitable raw materials for the production of activated carbon and carbon molecular sieves.

For this purpose, raw materials such as palm skin, sugarcane pulp, rice skin, olive kernel, almond skin, hazelnut skin, coconut skin, pistachio skin, and walnut skin can be used.

In addition to agricultural waste, other polymeric and mineral materials such as coal, resins, anthracite, waste newspapers, and other such things can also be used.

The findings of the researchers indicate that the amount of acidity in the processing process and the type of coating material in the layering process can cause an increase or decrease in the absorption capacity of carbon monoxide by the absorbents.

4155/g/Mohammad Jafari