Abstract
Considering the growing interest in environmentally friendly and economically advantageous materials, this study focuses on developing activated carbons from waste wheat straw and husk and modifying them with transition metal ions, such as Ni2+, Co2+, and Co3+, to enhance their electrochemical properties. Using agricultural waste simultaneously addresses biomass utilisation challenges and produces valuable low-cost functional materials. A comprehensive physicochemical characterisation of the modified activated carbon (AC) was carried out. This included elemental (CHNS), ash, and oxygen content analysis, as well as spectral (FTIR, Raman) and structural (XRD) analysis of ACs, confirming the successful modification and morphological change. Carbon-paste electrodes exhibited high sensitivity and stable responses in electroanalytical assessments, including redox and acid-base potentiometric titrations. These findings suggest that the material holds significant promise as a cost-effective and efficient sensor for analysing aquatic environments and environmental monitoring. The study underscores the potential of utilising secondary biological resources to fabricate functional carbon materials, aligning with principles of sustainable development and the circular economy