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Abstract
Due to the rise in municipal and agro-based waste, there is growing concern about waste-to-energy conversion, especially regarding plastic waste. One highly effective approach to waste-to-energy conversion involves the potential reuse of plastic waste in fuel cells. This re-search focuses on the preparation of a polyethylene terephthalate (PET)-Activated carbon (AC) biocomposite by treating polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a commonly available plastic waste, with activated carbon (AC) derived from two different biomass sources (orange peels and sawdust). The objective of this study is to examine the impact of various biomass materials on the water absorption behavior of the synthesized biocomposite, which can serve as a cost-effective alternative electrode material in fuel cells. To accomplish this, different ratios of PET-AC mixtures were prepared using the solvent casting method. Thin films of PET-AC were formed through drying, and their water absorption behavior was assessed. The findings indicate that the sample activated with orange peels exhibits greater responsiveness in terms of moisture intake compared to the samples derived from sawdust, as confirmed by the analysis of variance demonstrating the significance of water absorption. Incorporating PET-AC biocomposites into fuel cell applications would not only decrease plastic disposal but also offer a sustainable and environmentally friendly solution for energy generation. KEYWORDS: Biocomposite, Plastic wastes (PET), Activated carbon, Water Absorption, Waste-to-energy, Fuel cells.