Abstract:
This thesis evaluated biochar as a potential novel adsorbent for capturing the anaesthetic agent, sevoflurane,
from medical waste gas. Because sevoflurane is a potent greenhouse gas, its capture is deemed vital to reducing
the healthcare industry’s emissions while also achieving the sustainable goal of reducing waste and making
anaesthesia more efficient. Biochar was hypothesised to be a promising adsorbent of anaesthetic gases because
it has abundant surface oxygen functionality. Original biochar was initially characterised and found to have an
apparent specific surface area much lower than desired for an adsorbent of gases, so it was further engineered
to increase these physical properties without altering the chemical surface character. Unfortunately, it was
concluded that biochar is not a suitable adsorbent, with zero adsorbent capacity being measured for original
biochar, heat-treated biochar or heat-treated biochar subjected to a hydrothermal treatment. A geometrical
incompatibility between the target molecule and the pore size of the adsorbent could cause this poor
performance, with the lack of chemical interactions between the target molecule and other substances also
contributing. Therefore, activated carbon remains the best performing material, and recommendations for future
research were made following these conclusions.