IIARD International Institute of Academic Research and Development

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY AND CHEMICAL PROCESSES (IJCCP )

E-I SSN 2545-5265
P- ISSN 2695-1916
VOL. 11 NO. 2 2025
DOI: 10.56201/ijccp.vol.11.no2.2025.pg78.89

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Preparation And Application of Carbon Aerogel/Cobalt Phosphate Composite for Desalination by Hybrid Capacitive Deionization Method

Beke, Michael Abraham

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Abstract

The availability of freshwater remains a global challenge. But the abundant saline water from the sea and estuaries can be harnessed for the production of freshwater by desalination. Hence there is a pressing need to develop a cost-effective and dependable desalination technology. In this study, we investigate the application of carbon aerogel cobalt phosphate composite for desalination of saline water by the hybrid capacitive deionization method. Aerogel was prepared by the sol-gel method, the aerogel was then heated to 1000oC under nitrogen gas flow to give carbon aerogel (CA). The CA was impregnated with cobalt and phosphate to give the composite [CA/Co3(PO4)2]. From the cyclic voltammetry analysis, the specific capacitance of the CA is 191F/g while that of the composite is 750F/g. The galvanostatic charge/discharge test of the composite shows a capacitance retention of 99% after 2000 cycles of charge/discharge. The composite was applied as electrode material for desalination of 1000 mg/L, 2000 mg/L and 3000mg/L saline solutions separately by hybrid capacitive deionization at an applied potential of 2.0V. The desalination results shows that the salt adsorption of the electrode at 1000 mg/L, was 76 mg/g, at 2000 mg/L it was 112 mg/g, and at 3000 mg/L it was 157 mg/g. From the results, it is clear that the composite material will perform very well when used as electrode in building a HCDI equipment for commercial use.

keywords:

Carbon aerogel, Cobalt Phosphate, Hybrid Capacitive Deionization, Desalination

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