Characterization of silver-containing pitch-based activated carbon fibers

Silver-containing pitch-based activated carbon fibers (ACFs) were prepared by activation with steam. Silver particles acted as catalyst by accelerating activation rate and increasing micropore size. Scanning electron microscopy (SERI) was used to investigate the surface morphology and behavior of silver particles in carbon fibers during activation. SEM images of the silver-containing fibers at about 70% burn-off were similar to those of nonactivated carbon fibers. Characterization of the ACFs studied was performed by using nitrogen adsorption isotherms, pore size distributions, silver content data, and adsorption capacities of iodine and methylene blue. Nitrogen adsorption isotherms and specific surface areas for the silver-containing ACFs were similar to those measured on the pure ACFs, i.e., ACFs to which silver had not been added. Also, adsorption capacities of iodine and methylene blue measured from liquid solutions were similar to those of the pure ACFs. However, the average micropore size of ACFs increased with increasing burn-off. (C) 1999 Academic Press.