Activated Carbon Fibers Research Articles

Assessing Adsorption and Desorption Performance in the Recovery of Volatile Organic Compounds

In this study, the activated carbon fiber filter design and VOC adsorption and desorption performance were evaluated based on the development of a filter regeneration device to treat VOCs in high efficiency and low cost. Activated carbon fiber (ACF) has the advantage of fast adsorption speed and high adsorption capacity because micropores are formed on the surface and a large specific surface area. However, the specific gravity is about 25 times lower than that of activated carbon (AC), so the amount of adsorbent that can fill the same volume is small. In order to solve this problem, the regeneration device is implemented by repeating adsorption and regeneration for a short time, and a cylindrical adsorption filter made of activated carbon fiber is designed according to the operating conditions of the regeneration device. At this time, the pollutant gas and regenerated air are uniformly distributed over the entire adsorbent, and the flow characteristics according to the supply of the pollutant gas and the regeneration gas are analyzed. When the size of the lower part of the cylindrical adsorption filter is smaller than the size of the upper part under the condition that the pollutant gas flows downward, a uniform distribution of the pollutant gas is possible. In addition, as the space velocity decreases, the adsorption capacity decreases, and the differential pressure increases rapidly. Through the regeneration experiment, it was confirmed that the desorption concentration of MEK was higher and the desorption concentration was higher. In addition, the regenerated air is uniformly dispersed throughout the adsorption filter, toluene, o-xylene, and methyl ethyl ketone, which are representative substances of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), are injected with 400 ppm, and then regenerated air is supplied at 150 °C to analyze adsorption characteristics and regeneration concentrations. As a result of the experiment, the adsorption capacity ratio to 1 g of regeneration air according to the type of VOCs was 0.48, 0.36, and 0.25 g in the order of o-xylene, toluene, and methyl ethyl ketone. In addition, as the space velocity decreases, the adsorption capacity decreases, and the differential pressure increases rapidly. Through the regeneration experiment, it was confirmed that the desorption concentration of MEK was higher and the desorption concentration of o-xylene was discharged at a relatively low concentration. Moreover, even if the adsorption concentration changes, there was no difference in the regeneration concentration change. Therefore, the filter was designed based on the spatial speed of the regeneration device of 51,000 -h or less, and the adsorption capacity ratio to 1 g of the regeneration air amount was 0.1 g, thereby enhancing the filter's recycling performance and VOCs emission effect.

방사성 물질 흡착용 활성탄소섬유 시험방법 연구

The global demand for energy is escalating due to the increased power consumption for AI data centers, leading to the expansion of nuclear power facilities and a subsequent rise in radioactive waste generation. To address this, activated carbon filter systems have been employed in nuclear power plants to adsorb and prevent the atmospheric release of radioactive iodine, a byproduct of these facilities. However, the substantial annual discharge of activated carbon is causing challenges such as a shortage of waste storage facilities. To mitigate this issue, this study investigated the application of activated carbon fiber (ACF) in nuclear power plant filter systems. Adhering to existing standards for radioactive material adsorption, we established a suitable testing environment for ACF and conducted adsorption and removal tests. The results demonstrated a maximum removal efficiency of over 99.918% for radioactive iodine, indicating a performance comparable or superior to that of conventional activated carbon used in current processes. This research is expected to contribute positively to the diversification of materials used for radioactive material adsorption and removal in nuclear power plants, as well as the establishment of relevant standards.

Enhancement of Succinic Acid Production by Actinobacillus succinogenes in an Electro-Bioreactor

This work examines the electrochemically enhanced production of succinic acid using the bacterium Actinobacillus succinogenes. The principal objective is to enhance the metabolic potential of glucose and CO2 utilization via the C4 pathway in order to synthesize succinic acid. We report on the development of an electro-bioreactor system to increase succinic acid production in a power-2-X approach. The use of activated carbon fibers as electrode surfaces and contact areas allows A. succinogenes to self-initiate biofilm formation. The integration of an electrical potential into the system shifts the redox balance from NAD+ to NADH, increasing the efficiency of metabolic processes. Mediators such as neutral red facilitate electron transfer within the system and optimize the redox reactions that are crucial for increased succinic acid production. Furthermore, the role of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in electron transfer was investigated. The electro-bioreactor system developed here was operated in batch mode for 48 h and showed improvements in succinic acid yield and concentration. In particular, a run with 100 µM neutral red and a voltage of −600 mV achieved a yield of 0.7 gsuccinate·gglucose−1. In the absence of neutral red, a higher yield of 0.72 gsuccinate·gglucose−1 was achieved, which represents an increase of 14% compared to the control. When a potential of −600 mV was used in conjunction with 500 µg∙L−1 CNTs, a 21% increase in succinate concentration was observed after 48 h. An increase of 33% was achieved in the same batch by increasing the stirring speed. These results underscore the potential of the electro-bioreactor system to markedly enhance succinic acid production.

Evaluation of activated carbon fiber packed-bed for the treatment of gas-to-liquid wastewater: experimental, modeling and ASPEN Adsorption simulation

AbstractThis study investigates the continuous adsorption treatment of gas-to-liquid (GTL) wastewater from the Fischer-Tropsch process using activated carbon fiber (ACF) as the adsorbent. ACF, characterized by a high surface area of 1232 m²/g, was utilized to treat actual GTL wastewater, which contains long and short-chain alcohols, fatty acids, and other hydrocarbons. Experimental analysis, packed-bed modeling and simulation using ASPEN Adsorption were employed to understand the dynamics of the adsorption process. The experimental setup involved a bench-scale column packed with specified masses of ACF, with GTL wastewater pumped upward through the column at varying flow rates. Breakthrough curves were constructed to assess column performance, with parameters, such as feed flow rate (5 and 10 mL/min) and packing mass (5 and 10 g) systematically varied. The results demonstrate a significant influence of these parameters on column performance, with higher flow rates initially accelerating adsorption kinetics. Conversely, increasing packing mass extends the duration of column saturation, improving efficiency. Empirical models, including the Yoon-Nelson and El-Naas et al. models were applied to fit the experimental data, with the latter showing superior performance in representing the adsorption mechanism within the column. Quantitative analysis of model fitting using Akaike Information Criteria (AIC) identified the Yoon-Nelson and El-Naas et al. model as the most suitable for describing the GTL wastewater/ACF system, with an AIC weight parameter of 0.33 and R2 averaging 86.5%. Furthermore, simulation results from ASPEN Adsorption exhibited strong agreement with experimental data, validating its efficacy for simulating liquid adsorption processes. The study provides valuable insights into the design and optimization of large-scale wastewater treatment systems, offering practical solutions to address global water challenges.

Activated carbon fiber loaded nano zero-valent iron for Microcystis aeruginosa removal: Performance and mechanisms

Cyanobacterial blooms caused by Microcystis aeruginosa threaten environmental safety and daily life. In this study, an activated carbon fiber-supported nano zero-valent iron composite (ACF-nZVI) was developed to remove Microcystis aeruginosa. The results showed that nZVI was evenly distributed on the activated carbon fibers, preventing aggregation and oxidation. ACF-nZVI achieved a removal efficiency of more than 90 % within a pH range of 3–7. During the reaction, H2O2, which was generated by Fe0, was activated to form ·OH and ·O–2, which dismantled antioxidant enzymes and induced lipid peroxidation. Additionally, ACF-nZVI destroyed the cell wall and membrane, resulting in protein and humus leakage and causing 92.34 % cell damage and death. In this study, an environmentally friendly and stable nanomaterial was developed, offering a novel approach for the safe, cost-effective, and efficient removal of cyanobacteria.

Activated Carbon Fiber Felt Composites for the Direct Air Capture of Carbon Dioxide

Negative emission technologies to mitigate climate change require innovative solutions for the direct air capture (DAC) of CO2 from the atmosphere. K2CO3 readily reacts with CO2 to form KHCO3; however, bulk K2CO3 suffers from very slow sorption kinetics. By incorporating K2CO3 into activated carbon (AC) fiber felts, the sorption kinetics were significantly improved by increasing the surface area of K2CO3 in contact with air. The AC‐K2CO3 fiber composite felts are flexible, cheap, easy to manufacture, chemically stable, and show excellent DAC capacity and (de)sorption rates, with stable performance up to ten cycles. Cyclic testing was demonstrated with 4 h sorption and 0.5 h desorption intervals. The best composite felts collected an average of 478 µmol of CO2 per gram of composite during 4 h of exposure to ambient air (19% relative humidity) that had a CO2 concentration of 400‐450 ppm after regeneration at 125 °C in an air furnace. An increase in the dew point temperature from 0 °C to 12 °C decreased sorption performance of the composite felts by 40%.

ACFs-NH2 developed for dispersive solid phase extraction combined with Py-GC/MS for nanoplastic analysis in ambient water samples

Accurate determination of nanoplastics (NPs) in aquatic ecosystems constitutes a challenge for which highly sensitive analytical methods are necessitated. Herein, a sample pretreatment based on self-made amino-functionalized activated carbon fibers (ACFs-NH2) dispersive solid-phase extraction (DSPE) allows for high-recovery, followed by high-sensitivity detection of NPs by pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS). The developed methodology allowed low detection limits (20–100 μg/L) to be achieved quickly in a few steps. Under optimal conditions, ACFs-NH2 (12.5 mg) was able to recover ≥98.45 % of polystyrene (PS) nanoplastics at high concentration (100 mg/L) in 10 mL seawater. Based on the high adsorption performance of materials, the adsorption dynamics and isotherms were determined to infer the interaction mechanism of PSNPs on ACFs-NH2. After adsorption, the target on the surface of the adsorbent can be directly pyrolyzed, which can simplify the operation steps and avoid the elution of organic solvents, making the process more environmentally friendly. This strategy is feasible for the analysis of trace NPs in water systems.

Optimization of pore structure and surface chemical properties of activated carbon fiber via liquid-phase stabilization for enhanced supercapacitor performance

Stabilization is a crucial factor influencing both the structure and properties of pitch-based activated carbon fiber (PACF). The traditional air stabilization not only requires a high softening point of precursor but also consumes a considerable amount of time and energy. In this study, liquid-phase stabilization was employed to streamline the preparation process, and its influence on resultant PACF was investigated. The oxidation stabilization process is fully conducted in just 1 h through liquid-phase stabilization. The obtained N-doped pitch-based activated carbon fiber (NPACF) possessed higher specific surface area and higher nitrogen content (3.77 wt%) compared to PACF obtained by air oxidization. The specific capacitance of NPACF electrode attained 325 F/g at 0.5 A/g. The device based on two equal NPACF electrodes exhibited a specific capacitance of 222 F/g at 0.5 A/g, an energy density of 7.6 Wh/kg at 248 W/kg, and excellent cycle stability of 92.0 % after 10,000 cycles.

Interface reinforced by polymer binder for expandable carbon fiber structural lithium-ion battery composites

Carbon fiber (CF) composite structural battery (SB) is a novel energy storage device that integrates electrochemical energy storage with mechanical load-bearing capability. Carbon fiber's inherent conjugated carbon network possesses excellent electronic conductivity, thus serving as a current collector for electrode active materials. The bonding between active materials and carbon fibers relies on their manufacturing processes, requiring optimization of their electrochemical performance and addressing the challenges of large-scale production. In this work, a LiFePO4/PEO-LiTFSI/CF composite cathode was fabricated using the direct coating method. Polyethylene oxide (PEO) acted as a binder to form a stable LiFePO4 (LFP) coating on the carbon fiber woven fabric, while multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) were employed to construct a conductive network. This significantly enhanced both the charge-discharge performance and interface stability of the composite cathode. This composite cathode achieved a first-cycle discharge-specific capacity of 133.21 mAh·g−1 at 0.1 C rate and retained 93.7 % of its capacity after 200 cycles at 1 C rate. Based on this composite cathode, multiple active material coatings were integrated onto a carbon fiber woven fabric to manufacture an expandable multi-cell structural battery. Its advantage lies in the ability of multiple battery cells to disperse stress under load, thus achieving a higher capacity retention rate under bending loads. The structural battery possesses a high degree of customizability, allowing for adjustment of the area, position, and quantity of active material coatings to meet the demands of practical conditions.

Recent advances in activated carbon fibers for pollutant removal

Recent advances in activated carbon fibers for pollutant removal

NaCl aerosol filtration over filter media with intrafiber porosity: can filtrate capacity be increased by wicking into this pore volume?

This paper investigates a novel fiber-based filter media wherein a NaCl filtrate is collected and reservoired not only onto the surfaces of the fibers and within their inter-fiber voidage but also within the internal porosity of high pore volume nanoporous fibers or vapor grown carbon nanofibers (VGCF) floc used to fabricate the media. This transport process is shown to occur through a NaCl dissolution into the water-filled nanopores of the fiber and a subsequent intra-fiber wicking phenomenon. The study further elucidates two distinct NaCl accommodation mechanisms which are uniquely available to filter media containing nanoporous intrafiber porosity: (1) wicking and capillary condensation of liquid NaCl aerosols directly into the intrafiber pores at high RH, and (2) dissolution of otherwise solid NaCl aerosols deposited onto fiber surfaces (at low RH) into the interior nanopores of the fiber because these pores (when hydrophilic) are saturated with water (even at low RH). To investigate these two mechanistic regimes, various media were fabricated possessing multiscale porosity in the form of: (i) embedded flocs of VGCFs (4.108 cm3gm-1pore volume), (ii) hydrophilic and high pore volume activated carbon fibers (ACFs, 0.950 cm3gm-1) and (iii) solid graphite fibers. These media were then comparatively evaluated toward NaCl aerosol filtration at different relative humidities. Pressure drop measurements versus filtrate accumulation and SEM-EDAX VGCF demonstrated the location and transport of NaCl into the intrafiber voidage. Media containing both VGCF floc and ACF accumulated 1200% more NaCl at low RH (and a specified pressure drop) than similar media prepared from non-porous graphite fibers, with an additional 315% increase from low to high RH. A Gibbs free energy driving force model is provided to illustrate the driving forces favoring water condensation into the nanopores and solid NaCl aerosol dissolution into the water phase. Filtration efficiency and quality factor assessments for the various media are also systematically evaluated to demonstrate the observed mechanistics.

Trace silver doping improved the efficiency of copper-based Fenton-like catalysts cathode for wastewater treatment

The treatment of highly concentrated and recalcitrant organic pollutants in industrial wastewater has garnered significant attention, with Fenton oxidation emerging as a promising approach. However, traditional iron-based Fenton reagents present certain limitations, and copper-based Fenton systems are often less efficient. Thus, it is necessary to develop innovative copper-based Fenton catalytic materials. In this study, Cu₂O and Ag-modified activated carbon fibers (Cu₂O-Ag@ACF) were synthesized via liquid-phase reduction. The composition, structure, and morphology of Cu₂O-Ag@ACF were systematically characterized. The Cu₂O-Ag@ACF was employed as a functionalized cathode in the electro-Fenton process to degrade a highly concentrated organic pollutant solution, with methylene blue serving as a model contaminant. The loading of Cu₂O and Ag not only enhances the electrochemical performance of ACF but also improves its Fenton oxidation efficiency. Cu₂O-Ag@ACF exhibited less than 1 % performance degradation after five cycles of use, highlighting its potential for industrial applications under simulated realistic conditions. Moreover, the electro-Fenton system parameters, including current density, pH, electrode spacing, and solution temperature, were optimized. Under the optimal conditions, the degradation rate of methylene blue by Cu₂O-Ag@ACF reached 92.8 % within 120 minutes. Kinetic analysis indicated that the reaction followed a first-order kinetic model, with a rate constant of 0.253 min⁻¹. Furthermore, this study revealed that trace silver doping significantly accelerated the generation of reactive oxygen species, thereby enhancing the efficiency of the Cu-based Fenton-like catalysts. In conclusion, this work presents a convenient strategy for the sustainable and efficient purification of industrial wastewater, contributing to the improvement of human life quality.

Effect of pore characteristics on DMMP adsorption of activated carbon fibers from various precursors

Chemical warfare agents (CWA) pose significant hazards by rapidly attacking the nervous system, respiratory system, skin, and vital organs, leading to severe and often fatal outcomes. In order to ensure the effective protection of humans from CWA, it is necessary to utilize an adsorbent with both a high adsorption capacity and a rapid adsorption rate. In this study, ACF was selected as the adsorbent for CWA due to its superior adsorption characteristics in comparison to other adsorbents. The ACF were prepared as CBRN protective suit adsorbents by steam activation method. The textural properties of ACF were studied by N2/77 K isotherm adsorption–desorption curves. The dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP) adsorption behavior of ACF was analyzed through breakthrough experiments and compared with Saratoga AC. The specific surface area of the isotropic pitch fiber-derived ACF (P-ACF) and lyocell rayon fiber-derived ACF (R-ACF) were determined to be 660–2210 m2/g and 990–1830 m2/g, respectively. As a result, the adsorption performance of ACF was confirmed to be influenced by the pore characteristics according to the precursor crystal structure. Furthermore, P-H-4 was confirmed to have the 3.2 times higher DMMP adsorption capacity than Saratoga AC. Therefore, this study demonstrates the significant application of ACF as adsorbents for CBRN protective suits.

Evaluation of Wearability of Army CBRN Protective Clothing with Different Materials for Inner Layers: Comparisons between Activated Carbon Beads and Activated Carbon Fibers

Evaluation of Wearability of Army CBRN Protective Clothing with Different Materials for Inner Layers: Comparisons between Activated Carbon Beads and Activated Carbon Fibers

Carbon fiber felt scaffold from Brazilian textile PANfiber for regeneration of critical size bone defects in rats: A histomorphometric and microCT study.

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the carbon fiber obtained from textile PAN fiber, in its different forms, as a potential scaffolds synthetic bone. Thirty-four adult rats were used (Rattus norvegicus, albinus variation), two critical sized bone defects were made that were 5 mm in diameter. Twenty-four animals were randomly divided into four groups: control (C)-bone defect + blood clot, non-activated carbon fiber felt (NACFF)-bone defect + NACFF, activated carbon fiber felt (ACFF)-bone defect + ACFF, and silver activated carbon fiber felt (Ag-ACFF)-bone defect + Ag-ACFF, and was observed by 15 and 60 days for histomorphometric, three-dimensional computerized microtomography (microCT) and mineral apposition analysis. On histomorphometric and microCT analyses, NACFF were associated with higher proportion of neoformed bone and maintenance of bone structure. On fluorochrome bone label, there was no differences between the groups. NACFF has shown to be a promising synthetic material as a scaffold for bone regeneration.

Exploring oxygen migration and capacitive mechanisms: Crafting oxygen-enriched activated carbon fiber from low softening point pitch

A green pitch fiber from coal tar distillation residue, with a softening point of 190 °C, was used to make activated carbon fiber through an in-situ oxygen-doped method. Oxygen-rich pitch-based activated carbon fibers (OPACFs) were successfully created with a three-stage stabilization process using this low softening point pitch fiber. The OPACFs exhibit a moderate pore size distribution and high surface oxygen content (20.83 at%). The migration and transformation of oxygen during this process were studied. Due to the formation of stable oxygen-containing functional groups (CO), the resulting material shows excellent electrochemical performance. It achieved a specific capacitance of 334 F/g at 0.5 A/g and maintained good rate capacity (73.7 %, 0.5–50 A/g) in a 6 M KOH electrolyte. The assembled supercapacitor displayed exceptional cycle stability, retaining 91.4 % capacitance at 1 A/g after 10,000 cycles. Further investigation revealed that the specific capacitance includes both surface-controlled and diffusion-controlled capacitance, with oxygen doping significantly enhancing the latter.

Preparation of magnesium carbonate hydroxide microsheets modified activated carbon fiber and its adsorption of heavy metals

Preparation of magnesium carbonate hydroxide microsheets modified activated carbon fiber and its adsorption of heavy metals

Airborne Toluene Removal by Dynamic Adsorption on Fiber‐ and Granular‐Activated Carbon

AbstractThe selection of adsorbents is critical for developing an adsorption unit. In this study, a activated carbon fibers (ACF) and a granular‐activated carbon (GAC) were evaluated in dynamic toluene adsorption to determine their benefits and limitations. A variety of physicochemical approaches were used to characterize the samples. Adsorption under varied circumstances demonstrated that ACF has a larger adsorption capacity and a longer saturation time than GAC. The Langmuir isotherm suited equilibrium data well. Thermodynamic characteristics showed that adsorption was spontaneous and exothermic. The adsorption kinetics were found to be dominated by the pseudo‐first‐order model, with GAC having a greater sorption rate. Thermal regeneration appeared to be more favorable for ACF.

Ni2P nanosheet-coated N-doped carbon hollow tubes for high-performance hybrid supercapacitors

Ni2P shows significant potential for energy storage devices due to its high capacitance and long-term cyclic stability. However, its poor electrical conductivity and porosity limit its effectiveness in electrode battery-type (BT) applications for hybrid supercapacitors (HSCs). In this study, the Ni2P nanosheet-coated N-doped carbon hollow tubes (Ni2P/NCHTs) derived from polypyrrole (PPy) have been developed. These Ni2P/NCHTs form a unique one-dimension (1D) core-shell structure through a synergetic carbonization and phosphorization process. The resulting Ni2P/NCHTs exhibit a remarkable specific capacitance of up to 150.83 mAh·g−1 (1086 F g−1) at 1 A g−1 in an aqueous electrolyte (2 M KOH) using a three-electrode system. In an HSC device, with Ni2P/NCHTs as the positive electrode and an active carbon fiber (ACF) as the negative electrode, an energy density of 46.53 W h kg−1 is achieved at a power density of 1125 W kg−1 with high cycle stability (99.45 % retention after 5000 cycles). Therefore, Ni2P/NCHTs present a promising candidate for energy storage devices.

Efficient sequestration of cesium ions using phosphoric acid-modified activated carbon fibers from aqueous solutions

In this study, acid-modified activated carbon fibers (ACF-Ps) were synthesized by phosphorylation. Three different types of ACF-based adsorbents functionalized with PO43−, P2O74−, or P3O105− ions, namely, ACF-P1, ACF-P2, and ACF-P3, were prepared by phosphorylating ACF with trisodium phosphate (Na3PO4), sodium dihydrogen pyrophosphate (Na2H2P2O5), and sodium tripolyphosphate (Na5P3O10), respectively, and utilized as adsorbents to remove cesium ions (Cs+) from aqueous solutions. Among the tested adsorbents, ACF-P3 exhibited the highest Cs+ adsorption capacity of 37.59 mg g−1 at 25 °C and pH 7 which is higher than that of ACF (5.634 mg g−1), ACF-P1 (19.38 mg g−1), and ACF-P2 (30.12 mg g−1) under the same experimental conditions. More importantly, the Cs+ removal efficiencies of ACF-P3 (82.90%), ACF-P2 (66.2%), ACF-P1 (34.2%) were 29.3-, 23.4-, and 12.11-fold higher than that of un-treated ACF (2.83%). The results suggested that the phosphorylation with Na5P3O10 is highly suitable for Cs+ adsorption which effectively functionalizes ACF with a greater number of phosphate functional groups. Adsorption and kinetic data well-fitted the Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second-order model, respectively, which indicated the monolayer adsorption of Cs+ onto ACF-P1, ACF-P2, and ACF-P3 which were largely controlled by chemisorption. Overall, phosphoric acids containing different phosphate-based polyanions (PO43−, P2O74−, or P3O105−) enriched –OH and/or –COOH surface functional groups of ACF in addition to P-containing surface groups (PO, C–P–O, C–O–P, and P–O) and facilitated the Cs+ adsorption through surface complexation and electrostatic interactions.