Evaluation of the structural and compositional properties of carbon adsorbents derived from local waste by the SEM-EDX technique

Abstract

Activated carbon is one of the most widely used adsorbents due to its high specific surface area and well-developed porosity. Its performance in various applications, such as environmental, industrial, and biomedical fields, is directly related to its morphological structure and the elemental composition of its surface. In this context, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), represents an essential technique for the characterization of activated carbons. The article provides a detailed interpretation of the information obtained by SEM--EDX in the study of activated carbon, analyzing SEM images and EDX spectra in correlation with carbonization, activation, and chemical modification processes.