Waste newspaper activation using sodium salts: a new perspective

Abstract Waste newspaper causes contamination to the environment. Conversion of waste newspaper into activated carbon is a potential strategy due to its high carbon content. This paper aims to summarize recent advances in the production of activated carbons from waste newspaper and their applications in adsorption and wastewater treatment. The physicochemical properties from the use of different chemical activators with special emphasize on sodium salts to facilitate the adsorption of water pollutants were compared. The high BET surface and cost effectiveness allow the waste newspaper-based activated carbon as an economical alternative to be mass-produced for wastewater treatment.