Recycling of bio- and metallurgical waste to obtain silicon-carbon energy storage materials

Authors

1 Scientific Center for New Technologies; Almaty, Al-Farabi 7k, Nurly Tau Business Center, Block 5A, 334b, 050059, Kazakhstan

2 Center for Advanced Science and Technology, Akkainar Village, Zhambyl District, Almaty Region, Suranshy Batyr Street, House 26, 040602, Kazakhstan

3 Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, 71 al-Farabi Avenue, Almaty, Kazakhstan

10.22124/cjes.2026.9639

Abstract

The rapid growth in the volume of agricultural biowaste and by-products from the mining and metallurgical industries is creating critical environmental and resource challenges, while at the same time increasing the need for sustainable and highly efficient materials for electrochemical energy storage systems. The article describes the development and pilot testing of an integrated technology for processing biomass and metallurgical waste into silicon-carbon composite materials intended for use in lithium-ion battery anodes. The proposed approach involves carbonisation of agricultural residues with the formation of a conductive porous carbon matrix, extraction of silicon from metallurgical slags, and subsequent synthesis of silicon-carbon composites. The structural, morphological, and physicochemical characteristics of the materials, determined by X-ray diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, specific surface area analysis (BET) and thermogravimetric analysis, confirmed the formation of a highly developed porous structure with a uniform distribution of silicon particles in the carbon matrix. Electrochemical tests have shown that the composites obtained have high reversible capacity, improved Coulombic efficiency and high stability during long-term cycling, significantly exceeding the characteristics of traditional graphite anodes. Particular attention was paid to process scaling issues: it was shown that the transition from laboratory synthesis to pilot production does not lead to degradation of the structural and electrochemical properties of the materials. The results of the work demonstrate the high potential of using secondary biomass and metallurgical resources as sustainable and cost-effective precursors for creating a new generation of anode materials, contributing to a reduction in environmental impact and the development of green energy technologies.

Keywords

References

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Caspian Journal of Environmental Sciences
Volume 24, Issue 2
April 2026
Pages 615-622

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