Journals / International Journal of Chemistry and Technology / 2026 / Issue: 10

Eco-Friendly Synthesis of Carbonized Cellulose Aerogels from Olive Stone Waste: Structure and Properties

Hüseyin Özay(EGE UNIVERSITY, FACULTY OF SCIENCE, DEPARTMENT OF BIOCHEMISTRY)0000-0002-7764-2461
Eylem Hirli(EGE UNIVERSITY, FACULTY OF SCIENCE, DEPARTMENT OF BIOCHEMISTRY)0009-0000-8966-8848
Rabia Çakmak Göker(EGE UNIVERSITY, FACULTY OF SCIENCE, DEPARTMENT OF BIOCHEMISTRY)0009-0009-7211-1862
Burcu Okutucu(EGE UNIVERSITY, FACULTY OF SCIENCE, DEPARTMENT OF BIOCHEMISTRY)0000-0002-0907-4175
Pages
—
Publication Date
2026-06-02
🏛️Bibliographic metadata and full text access for this article are provided via DergiPark.
DergiPark Record ↗
✨

AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

The results suggest that olive stone-derived carbonized cellulose aerogels could serve as low-cost, eco-friendly, and sustainable adsorbent materials for wastewater treatment and agricultural waste valorization.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:In this study, carbonized cellulose-based aerogels were synthesized from olive stone waste via low-temperature hydrothermal carbonization combined with sol–gel polymerization.
📊
Key Findings & Data:SEM images demonstrated a porous morphology with irregular interconnected voids.
💡
Conclusion & Impact:The results suggest that olive stone-derived carbonized cellulose aerogels could serve as low-cost, eco-friendly, and sustainable adsorbent materials for wastewater treatment and agricultural waste valorization.
🔬Design:Research Article
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Olive waste · aerogel · carbonized cellulose

Abstract

In this study, carbonized cellulose-based aerogels were synthesized from olive stone waste via low-temperature hydrothermal carbonization combined with sol–gel polymerization. The extracted cellulose was partially carbonized to obtain functionalized precursor structures containing oxygen-rich active groups suitable for aerogel formation. Carbonized cellulose was blended with chitosan and crosslinked using epichlorohydrin to produce stable three-dimensional porous aerogels through solvent exchange and freeze-drying processes. The physicochemical properties of the synthesized aerogels were investigated using FTIR, XRD, SEM, and water adsorption analyses. FTIR spectra confirmed structural modifications after carbonization and crosslinking, while XRD results revealed a predominantly amorphous structure with reduced crystallinity. SEM images demonstrated a porous morphology with irregular interconnected voids. The carbonized cellulose aerogel exhibited moderate adsorption performance toward olive wastewater, with an adsorption capacity of 100 mg g⁻¹. The results suggest that olive stone-derived carbonized cellulose aerogels could serve as low-cost, eco-friendly, and sustainable adsorbent materials for wastewater treatment and agricultural waste valorization.

🔖

Cite This Article

Özay, H., Hirli, E., Göker, R. Ç., Okutucu, B. (2026). Eco-Friendly Synthesis of Carbonized Cellulose Aerogels from Olive Stone Waste: Structure and Properties. International Journal of Chemistry and Technology, Issue: 10. https://doi.org/10.32571/ijct.1802604

📄 Full Text PDF Viewer

📄

PDF görüntüleyici hazırlanıyor...

References (58)

  1. Abdallah, H.A., Tannous, J.H., Abu‐Jdayil, B. (2024). Cellulose and nanocellulose aerogels, their preparation methods, and potential applications: a review. Cellulose, 31, 2001-2009. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-024-05743-w
  2. Adolfsson, K.H., Yadav, N., Hakkarainen, M. (2020). Cellulose-derived hydrothermally carbonized materials and their emerging applications. Current Opinion in Green and Sustainable Chemistry, 23, 18-24. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cogsc.2020.03.008
  3. Alkhalidi, A., Halaweh, G., Khawaja, M.K. (2023). Recommendations for olive mills waste treatment in hot and dry climate. Journal of Saudi Society of Agricultural Sciences, 22, 361-373. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jssas.2023.03.002
  4. Asim, N., Badiei, M., Alghoul, M.A., Mohammad, M., Fudholi, A., Akhtaruzzaman, Md., Amin, N., Sopian, K. (2019). Biomass and industrial wastes as resource materials for aerogel preparation: opportunities, challenges, and research directions. Industrial Engineering Chemistry Research, 58, 17621-17645. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.iecr.9b02661
  5. Avci, H., Uğur, Y., & Erdoğan, S. (2018). Evalution of fatty acid compositions and physicochemical quality parameters of ancient and recent olive (Olea europaea L.) oil varieties of Southeast Anatolia. International Journal of Chemistry and Technology, 2, 76-88. https://doi.org/10.32571/ijct.455519
  6. Balmuk, G., Cay, H., Duman, G., Kantarli, I.C., Yanik, J. (2023). Hydrothermal carbonization of olive oil industry waste into solid fuel: Fuel characteristics and combustion performance. Energy. 278, 127803. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2023.127803
  7. Bhatnagar, A., Kaczala, F., Hogland, W., Marques, M., Paraskeva, C.A., Papadakis, V.G., Sillanpää, M. (2014). Valorization of solid waste products from olive oil industry as potential adsorbents for water pollution control—a review. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 21, 268-298. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-013-2135-6
  8. Biyada, S., Merzouki, M., Elkarrach, K., Benlemlih, M. (2020). Spectroscopic characterization of organic matter transformation during composting of textile solid waste using UV–Visible spectroscopy, Infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Microchemical Journal, 159, 105314. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.microc.2020.105314
  9. Brys, A., Brys, J., Obranovic, M., Skevin, D., Gowacki, S., Tulej, W., Ostrowska-Ligęza, E., Górska, A. (2021). Application of the Calorimetric Methods to the Characteristics of Seeds from Olives. Proceedings, 70, 90. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods_2020-07665
  10. Cao, M., Liu, B.W., Zhang, L., Peng, Z.C., Zhang, Y.Y., Wang, H., Zhao, H.B., Yu-Zhong, W. (2021). Fully biomass-based aerogels with ultrahigh mechanical modulus, enhanced flame retardancy, and great thermal insulation applications. Composites Part B: Engineering, 225, 109309. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesb.2021.109309
  11. Christoforou, E., Fokaides, P.A. (2016). A review of olive mill solid wastes to energy utilization techniques. Waste Management, 49, 346-363. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2016.01.012
  12. El-Sheikh, A.H., Newman, A.P (2023). Partially pyrolyzed-non-activated olive stones: Characterization and utilization of olive stones partially-pyrolyzed at various temperatures for 2-chlorophenol removal from water. Emerging Contaminants, 9, 100209. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.emcon.2023.100209
  13. Falco, C., Baccile, N., Titirici, M.M. (2011). Morphological and structural differences between glucose, cellulose and lignocellulosic biomass derived hydrothermal carbons. Green Chemistry, 13, 3273-3282. https://doi.org/10.1039/c1gc15742f
  14. Farag, E., Alshebani, M., Elhrari, W., Klash, A., Shebani, A. (2020). Production of particle board using olive stone waste for interior design. Journal of Building Engineering, 29, 101119. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2019.101119
  15. Funke, A., Ziegler, F. (2010). Hydrothermal carbonization of biomass: A summary and discussion of chemical mechanisms for process engineering. Biofuels Bioproducts Biorefinary, 4, 160-177. https://doi.org/10.1002/bbb.198
  16. Galiwango, E., Rahman, N.S.A., Al-Marzouqi, A.H., Abu-Omar, M.M., Khaleel, A.A., 2019. Isolation and characterization of cellulose and α-cellulose from date palm biomass waste. Heliyon. 5, e02937. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e02937
  17. Gao, Y., Tomas, M.C.A., Garemark, J., Sheng, X., Berglund, L., Li, Y. (2021). Olive stone delignification toward efficient adsorption of metal ions. Frontiers in Materials, 8, 605931. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmats.2021.605931
  18. García-Bordeje, E., Pires, E., Jose, M., Fraile, J.M. (2017). Parametric study of the hydrothermal carbonization of cellulose and effect of acidic conditions. Carbon. 123, 421-432. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbon.2017.07.085
  19. González‐Arias, J., Sánchez, M.E., Cara‐Jiménez, J., Baena‐Moreno, F.M., Zhang, Z. (2022). Hydrothermal carbonization of biomass and waste: A review. Environmental Chemistry Letters, 20, 211-221. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-021-01311-x
  20. Grzyb, B., Hildenbrand, C., Berthon-Fabry, S., Begin, D., Job, N., Rigacci, A., Achard, P. (2010). Functionalisation and chemical characterisation of cellulose-derived carbon aerogels. Carbon, 48, 2297-2307. https:// doi.org/10.1016/j.carbon.2010.03.005
  21. Han, S., Sun, Q., Zheng, H., Li, J., Jin, C. (2016). Green and facile fabrication of carbon aerogels from cellulose-based waste newspaper for solving organic pollution. Carbohydrate Polymers, 136, 95-100. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2015.09.024
  22. Haris, M., Waqas, MK., Paz-Ferreiro, J., Mahmood, N., Eshtiaghi, N. (2022). Synthesis of functional hydrochar from olive waste for simultaneous removal of azo and non-azo dyes from water. Chemical Engineering Journal Advances, 9, 100233. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceja.2021.100233
  23. He, M., Alam, K., Liu, H., Zheng, M., Zhao, J., Wang, L., Liu, L., Qin, X., Yu, J. (2021). Textile waste derived cellulose based composite aerogel for efficient solar steam generation. Composites Communications, 28, 100936. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coco.2021.100936
  24. Huang, J., Wang, X., Guo, W., Niu, H., Song, L., Hu, Y. (2022). Eco-friendly thermally insulating cellulose aerogels with exceptional flame retardancy, mechanical property and thermal stability. Journal of the Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers, 131, 104159. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtice.2021.104159
  25. Khan, T.A., Saud, A.S., Jamari, S., Hasbi, M., Rahim M.H.A., Park, J.W., Kim, H.J. (2019). Hydrothermal carbonization of lignocellulosic biomass for carbon rich material preparation: A review. Biomass Bioenergy, 130, 105384. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2019.105384
  26. Klaai, L., Hammiche, D., Boukerrou, A., Pandi, V. (2022). Thermal and structural analyses of extracted cellulose from olive husk. Materials Today: Proceedings, 52, 104-107. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2021.10.498
  27. Lahiri, A., Daniel, S., Kanthapazham, R., Vanaraj, R., Thambidurai, A., Leema, S.P. (2023). A critical review on food waste management for the production of materials and biofuel. Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances, 10, 100266 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hazadv.2023.100266
  28. Lee, J.H., Park, S.J. (2020). Recent advances in preparations and applications of carbon aerogels: A review. Carbon, 163, 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbon.2020.02.073
  29. Li, W., Li, Z., Wang, W., Li, Z., Li, Q., Qin, C., Cao, F. (2021) Green approach to facilely design hydrophobic aerogel directly from bagasse. Industrial Crops and Products, 172, 113957. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2021.113957
  30. Li, Y,Q., Samad, Y,A., Polychronopoulou, K., Alhassan, SM., Liao, K. (2014). Carbon aerogel from winter melon for highly efficient and recyclable oils and organic solvents absorption. ACS Sustainable Chemistry Engineering, 2, 1492-1497. https://doi.org/10.1021/sc500161b
  31. Li, Z., Lei, S., Xi, J., Ye, D., Hu, W., Song, L., Hu, Y., Cai, W., Gui, Z. (2021). Bio-based multifunctional carbon aerogels from sugarcane residue for organic solvents adsorption and solar-thermal-driven oil removal. Chemical Engineering Journal, 426, 129580. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2021.129580
  32. Long, L.Y., Weng, Y.X., Wang, Y.Z. (2018). Cellulose aerogels: synthesis, applications, and prospects. Polymers, 10, 623. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym10060623
  33. Marrakchi, F., Hameed, B.H. Mohamed Bouaziz, M. (2020). Mesoporous and high-surface-area activated carbon from defatted olive cake by-products of olive mills for the adsorption kinetics and isotherm of methylene blue and acid blue 29. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 8, 104199. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2020.104199
  34. Matosa, M., Barreiro, MF., Gandini, A. (2010). Olive stone as a renewable source of biopolyol. Industrial Crops and Products, 32, 7-12. https://doi:10.1016/j.indcrop.2010.02.010
  35. Nguyen, H.S.H., Phan, H.H., Huynh, K.P., Nguyen, S.T., Nguyend, V.T.T., Phan, A.N. (2022). Understanding the effects of cellulose fibers from various pre-treated barley straw on properties of aerogels. Fuel Processing Technology, 236, 107425. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuproc.2022.107425
  36. Nguyen, S.T., Feng, J., Le, N.T., Le, A.T.T., Hoang, N., Tan, V.B.C., Duong, H.M. (2013). Cellulose aerogel from paper waste for crude oil spill cleaning. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Reserach, 52, 18386-18391. https://doi.org/10.1021/ie4032567
  37. Ozveren, U., Ozdoğan, Z.S. (2013). Investigation of the slow pyrolysis kinetics of olive oil pomace using thermo-gravimetric analysis coupled with mass spectrometry. Biomass Bioenergy, 58, 168-179. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2013.08.011
  38. Padilla-Rascon, C., Romero-García, JM., Romero, I., Ruiz, E., Castro, E. (2023). Multicompound biorefinery based on combined acid/alkaline-oxidative treatment of olive stones. Process Safety and Environmental Protection, 169, 82-92. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psep.2022.11.010.
  39. Pauline, A.L., Joseph, K. (2020). Hydrothermal carbonization of organic wastes to carbonaceous solid fuel – A review of mechanisms and process parameters. Fuel, 279, 118472. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2020.118472
  40. Phillip, B., Rehder, W., Papier, L.H. (1998). Comprehensive cellulose chemistry v. 2: functionalization of cellulose: functionalization of cellulose. (Klemm, D. (Ed.))Wiley- VCH. 1-10.
  41. Rabichi, I., Ezzahi, K., Yaacoubi, F.E., Izghri, Z., Ennaciri, K., Ounas, A. et al (2025). Evaluating the fixed-bed column adsorption capacity of olive pomace biochar activated with KOH and H3PO4 for olive mill wastewater treatment: Insights from TOC and HPLC analysis. Chemosphere, 377, 144356. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2025.144356
  42. Rahman, M.F.A., Elhawary, E., Hafez, A.M., Capanoglu, E., Fang, Y., Mohamed, A., Farag, M.A. (2024). How does olive seed chemistry, health benefits and action mechanisms compare to its fruit oil? A comprehensive review for valorization purposes and maximizing its health benefits. Food Bioscience, 59, 104017. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fbio.2024.104017
  43. Ronda, A., Martín-Lara, MA., Calero, M., Blázquez, G. (2015). Complete use of an agricultural waste: Application of untreated and chemically treated olive stone as biosorbent of lead ions and reuse as fuel. Chemical Engineering Research and Design, 104, 740-751. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cherd.2015.10.021
  44. Roy, P., Mohanty, AK., Dick, P., Misra M. (2023). A review on the challenges and choices for food waste valorization: environmental and economic impacts. ACS Environmental Au, 3, 58-75. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsenvironau.2c00050
  45. Saleem, J., Shahid, U.B., Hijab, M., Mackey, H., McKay, G. (2019). Production and applications of activated carbons as adsorbents from olive stones. Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery, 9, 775-802. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-019-00473-7
  46. Sam, D.K., Sam, E.K., Durairaj, A., Lv, X., Zhou, Z., Liu, J. (2020). Synthesis of biomass-based carbon aerogels in energy and sustainability. Carbohydrate Research, 491, 107986. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carres.2020.107986 Sevilla, M., Fuertes, A.B. (2009). The production of carbon materials by hydrothermal carbonization of cellulose. Carbon, 47, 2281-2289. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbon.2009.04.026
  47. Simsir, H., Eltugral, N., Karagoz, S. (2017). Hydrothermal carbonization for the preparation of hydrochars from glucose, cellulose, chitin, chitosan and wood chips via low-temperature and their characterization. Bioresource Technology, 246, 82-87. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2017.07.018
  48. Torres, C.E.I., Quezada, T.E.S., Kharissova, O.V., Kharisov, B.I., Gomez, I., (2021). Carbon-based aerogels and xerogels: Synthesis, properties, oil sorption capacities, and DFT simulations. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 9, 104886. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2020.104886
  49. Valvez, S., Maceiras, A., Santos, P., Reis, P.N.B. (2021). Olive stones as filler for polymer-based composites: A review. Materials, 14, 845. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14040845
  50. Vitolo, S., Petarca, L., Bresci, B. (19999. Treatment of olive oil industry wastes. Bioresource Technology, 67, 129-137. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0960-8524(98)00110-2
  51. Volpe, M., Messineo, A., Mäkelä, M., Barr, M.R., Volpe, R., Corrado, C., Fiori, L. (2020). Reactivity of cellulose during hydrothermal carbonization of lignocellulosic biomass. Fuel Processing Technology, 206, 106456. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuproc.2020.106456
  52. Volpe, M., Wüst, D., Merzari, F., Lucian, M., Andreottola, G., Kruse, A., Fiori, L. (2018). One stage olive mill waste streams valorisation via hydrothermal carbonisation. Waste Management, 80, 224-234, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2018.09.021
  53. Wang, Q., Wu, S., Cui, D., Pan, S., Xu, F., Xu, F., Wang, Z., Li, G. (2022). Co-hydrothermal carbonization of corn stover and food waste: Characterization of hydrochar, synergistic effects, and combustion characteristic analysis. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 10, 108716. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2022.108716
  54. Wang, T., Zhai, Y., Zhu, Y., Li, C., Zeng, G. (2018). A review of the hydrothermal carbonization of biomass waste for hydrochar formation: Process conditions, fundamentals, and physicochemical properties. Renewable Sustainable Energy Reviews, 90, 223-247. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2018.03.071
  55. Xu, J., Fan, Z., Yang, Q., Lu, G., Liu, P., Wang, D. (2023). Hydrothermal carbonization of waste wood: Sustainable recycling of biomass by-products and novel performance enhancer for bitumen. Construction and Building Materials, 404, 133307. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2023.13330
  56. Yang, D.P., Li, Z., Liu, M., Zhang, X., Chen, Y., Xue, H., Ye, E., Luque, R. (2019). Biomass-derived carbonaceous materials: recent progress in synthetic approaches, advantages, and applications. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 7, 4564-4585. https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.8b06030
  57. Zaman, A., Huang, F., Jiang, M., Wei, W., Zhou, Z., (2020). Preparation, properties, and applications of natural cellulosic aerogels: A review. Energy and Built Environment, 1, 60-76. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbenv.2019.09.002
  58. Zhang, S.H., Wu, H., Zhang, H., Liu, Z., Zhang, L., Chen, J., Zhou, Q., Pan, G.B. (2020). In-situ preparation of water chestnut-based carbon aerogel and its application in binder-less electric double layer electrode and stress sensing. Vacuum, 181, 109731. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vacuum.2020.109731