Lien De Coen, Elisa Kooy, Hanne Ponnet and Waldo Capeau from the University of Gent in Belgium are Team Valorised Carbon.
Currently, the majority of activated carbon still originates from coal and lignite, with China being one of the main producers. To guarantee a sustainable future, renewable raw materials that are available in large quantities can be considered as an alternative. Waste products from the food industry such as fruit kernels can serve as raw materials for the production of activated carbon. Since these components are now often incinerated, upgrading food waste to activated carbon can offer a solution. These kernels can thus offer a local solution to a global problem.
The team is innovating the production of activated carbon from fruit waste.
