NITROGEN-DOPED CARBON QUANTUM DOTS SYNTHESIS PROCESS BASED ON PALM OIL EMPTY FRUIT FRUIT WASTE

Abstract

This invention relates to the process of making nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots based on oil palm empty fruit bunch biomass. The process includes preparation of oil palm empty fruit bunches, drying at 105°C, refining and sieving through 200 mesh, carbonization at 350°C for 1 hour in a nitrogen gas stream, chemical activation using ZnCl2 with a mass ratio of carbon:ZnCl2 of 1:1 w / w, physical activation at 550°C for 1 hour, washing using 37% HCl and distilled water, and hydrothermal synthesis using activated carbon and urea at 200°C for 6 hours. The results of the process are separated through centrifugation, filtration, dialysis, and freeze-dried to obtain brown nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots powder. This process utilizes oil palm empty fruit bunch waste as a carbon source and produces nitrogen-doped nanocarbon materials for applications in the fields of carbon materials, optical materials, and sensors.