Room: Poster Area
Date: Friday, 22 May 2026
Time: 13:45 - 14:45 CEST
Session code 1DV.6
Valorization of organic waste streams and residues into energy and materials
From Waste to Worth: Techno-Economic Analysis of Industrial-Scale Activated Carbon Production
Short Introductive summary
This study evaluates the techno-economic feasibility of producing activated carbon (AC) from municipal and industrial biomass waste using potassium carbonate as the activating agent. An industrial-scale model was developed, simulating a facility processing 10,000 kg of waste daily with a 30% yield, producing 704,000 kg of AC annually. The analysis incorporates CAPEX, OPEX, and revenue projections, alongside sensitivity analyses for feedstock price and plant capacity. Results show a positive NPV ($0.45 million), ROI of 25%, and a payback period of four years, confirming strong commercial potential. The findings highlight waste valorisation as a viable circular economy solution for sustainable AC production.
Presenter
Sabah MARIYAM
Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Division of Sustainable Development, QATAR
Presenter's biography
Dr Sabah Mariyam is a postdoctoral researcher in sustainable energy at Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar. Her work focuses on waste-to-fuel technologies, thermochemical conversion, and data-driven pathways for sustainable aviation fuel and circular bioeconomy solutions.
Biographies and Short introductive summaries are supplied directly by presenters and are published here unedited
Co-authors:
S. Mariyam, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, QATAR
M. Alherbawi, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, QATAR
G. McKay, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, QATAR
Session reference: 1DV.6.5