Chapter 3 - Active Carbon Fibers

Abstract

This chapter focuses on the pore and surface structures of carbon fibers, especially those fibers that have been treated, or activated, so that they contain a large number of pores narrower than 50 nm (micropores and mesopores). These active carbon fibers (ACF) are of increasing interest as adsorbents and catalyst supports, in competition with the more traditional, particulate forms of active carbons (PAC). Compared with PAC, there is improved access of adsorptive or reactive fluids to pores and active surface sites in ACF, together with generally higher pore volumes and surface areas. ACF can also be consolidated into a wide range of textiles, felts, and composites, allowing greater flexibility in the forms of materials based on ACF, and the ease (and hence low cost) with which they may be contained and handled compared with PAC. Other advantages are that materials based on ACF do not suffer from channeling, settling or attrition to the same extent as PAC packed in beds or columns.