Supplementary Research Data for "Activated Biochars from Heavy Metal-Contaminated Biomass for CO2 Capture: Adsorption Performance and Dominant Mechanisms"

This dataset contains supplementary experimental and characterization data supporting the research article “Activated biochars from heavy metal-contaminated biomass for CO2 capture: Adsorption performance and dominant mechanisms,” published in the Journal of CO2 Utilization, Volume 101 (2025), Article 103217.

The dataset includes Raman spectra and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) survey spectra of selected activated pine- and birch-derived biochars; pore size distributions of biochars activated under different conditions; measured N2 and CO2 adsorption isotherms and corresponding model fittings; inorganic composition of contaminated and uncontaminated birch and pine feedstocks; a summary of the biochar activation experiments; CO2 adsorption kinetic parameters obtained using pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, and Avrami models; elemental composition of activated biochars; concentrations of selected inorganic elements in pyrolyzed and activated samples; biochar yields after pyrolysis and activation; XPS-based surface elemental composition; and total, ultramicropore, and supermicropore surface areas and pore volumes determined using the 2D-NLDFT method.

The biochars were produced from contaminated and uncontaminated birch and pine biomass and activated under different conditions using CO2 or a 50/50 vol% CO2/H2O mixture at different temperatures and reaction times. Their CO2 adsorption performance was evaluated using thermogravimetric analysis, while complementary characterization techniques included ICP-OES, elemental analysis, SEM, FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, XPS, and gas adsorption measurements. The dataset supports the assessment of the effects of biomass type, heavy-metal contamination, activation conditions, pore structure, surface chemistry, and adsorption kinetics on the CO2 capture performance of activated biochars.