EUBCE 2026 - Maria RODRIGUEZ - Circular Conversion of Post-Industrial Leather Residues into Bio-Based Carbons for Carbon Capture Applications

Circular Conversion of Post-Industrial Leather Residues into Bio-Based Carbons for Carbon Capture Applications

Short Introductive summary

The leather industry generates nearly six million tons of waste each year, including pre-tanning residues, tanned leather scraps, and post-consumer materials. These wastes, rich in chromium and various chemical compounds, pose significant environmental and economic challenges due to their complex recyclability and the pollution caused by inadequate disposal practices such as landfilling or incineration. This study proposes an innovative valorization route for industrial leather waste through pyrolysis, converting the protein-rich collagen structure into nitrogen-doped porous carbons. These materials exhibit high surface area, well-developed porosity, and substantial nitrogen content, making them promising adsorbents for CO2 capture through enhanced interactions between nitrogen functional groups and CO2 molecules. The research focuses on optimizing pyrolysis conditions and surface functionalization to maximize both porosity and nitrogen incorporation. The resulting carbon materials are evaluated through comprehensive physicochemical characterization and CO2 adsorption experiments. Overall, this work contributes to the circular economy by reducing the environmental impact of leat

M. Rodriguez-Rodriguez, ITE, Valencia, SPAIN
P. Perez-Llamas, ITE, Valencia, SPAIN
I. Esteve-Adell, ITE, Valencia, SPAIN
M. García-Pellicer, ITE, Valencia, SPAIN