Generator Exhausts Control in Nigeria using Activated Carbon from Discarded Rubber Tyres

Abstract

Many Nigerian homes, offices, shops, and establishments are powered by generators due to inaccessible electricity from the national grid. Consequently, many people suffer from life-threatening cardiac complications due to their exposure to carbon monoxide poisoning from generator emissions. Besides, improper disposal of discarded rubber wastes, which unfortunately has become a norm in Nigeria, constitutes a menace to human health. The purpose of this study was to develop an effective system for pyrolytic conversion of discarded rubber tyres to activated carbons, which could be used as adsorbents for reducing generator emissions in Nigeria. Carbon black produced from the pyrolysis of the rubber tyres was chemically activated using potassium hydroxide, potassium carbonate, and hydrochloric solution of a mixture of copper (I) chloride and aluminium (III) chloride, with impregnation ratios ranging from 0.67 to 2.33. The range of values for surface areas, pore volumes, and pore sizes of the resultant activated carbons included 285 – 846 m\(^2\)/g, 0.116 – 0.354 cm\(^3\)/g, and 2.92 – 6.54 nm, respectively. The carbon monoxide reduction efficiencies of the activated carbons were very high, ranging from 94.0 to 95.5%, indicating the feasibility and effectiveness of this project in finding solutions to the twin problems of carbon monoxide poisoning from generators, as well as improper disposal of discarded rubber tyres in Nigeria. Commercial application of this project will allow effective management of discarded automobile tyres and also make locally produced activated carbon affordable, thereby reducing dependency on imported activated carbon. Availability of locally produced activated carbon will make feasible the domestic application of the activated carbon as an adsorbent for carbon monoxide from generator exhausts.