Ribeiro, Mónica StantonLima, Maria M. R. A.Vilarigues, MárciaZanatta, MarcileiaCorvo, Marta C.2024-05-242024-05-242024-082366-7486PURE: 89349241PURE UUID: 9f81973b-85dd-4926-a080-c61c5253fe85Scopus: 85190761094WOS: 001206237800001ORCID: /0000-0002-3080-3627/work/168300187http://hdl.handle.net/10362/167736M.Z. thanks the funding received from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (GA no. 101026335). M.C.C. thanks FCT for the researcher contract 2021.03255.CEECIND. The authors acknowledge the support of FCT- Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P., LA/P/0037/2020, UIDP/50025/2020 and UIDB/50025/2020 of the Associate Laboratory Institute of Nanostructures, Nanomodelling and Nanofabrication-i3N, also PTNMR/ROTEIRO/0031/2013 and PINFRA/22161/2016.The urgent need for sustainable waste management strategies has led to the exploration of innovative approaches for the valorization of waste. In this study, a method is proposed for carbonizing waste biomass materials, particularly paper mill waste sludges (primary and biological) and knots, to produce porous carbonaceous supports. Through an initial hydrothermal carbonization followed by carbonization with nitrogen flow, porous carbon materials are successfully generated. The findings of this investigation validate the successful generation of effective carbonaceous supports utilizing waste biomass materials. These materials are then evaluated for their effectiveness as porous supports in the ionic liquid-catalyzed cycloaddition reaction of CO2 to styrene oxide, achieving a remarkable conversion rate of up to 98% and an impressive selectivity exceeding 99%. Additionally, the results underscore the significant impact of the selected IL on the overall conversion process. Overall, this study presents a promising pathway for the valorization of paper mill waste sludge through the production of porous carbon materials with potential applications in catalysis and beyond.101844959engbiomasscarbonizationCO cycloadditionionic liquidspaper mill sludgeRenewable Energy, Sustainability and the EnvironmentGeneral Environmental ScienceSDG 7 - Affordable and Clean EnergySDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and ProductionSDG 13 - Climate Actionjournal article10.1002/adsu.202300655https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85190761094