Advances in Cork Use in Adsorption Applications: An Overview of the Last Decade of Research

Abstract

Cork-based adsorbents have been gathering interest from the research community since the 1990s. A first review was published on this topic in 2012. Still, in the last decade, novel activated carbons and biochars, in multiple applications, have been produced using cork as a raw material. This review presents these novel insights into the properties of cork, in its various forms, and how they relate to adsorption capacity. Details on new preparation methodologies and respective characteristics of cork-based activated carbons and biochars are thoroughly compared, and patterns are identified. Finally, the adsorption capacity of these materials in experimental conditions is reviewed for different compounds: heavy metals, organics, and gaseous pollutants. This review provides a complete picture of the kind and quality of different cork forms, their relative economic value, and how their conversion into activated carbons and biochars can contribute to a more circular economy by producing adsorbents that aid in the reduction of multiple pollution types.