XPS SURFACE STUDIES OF ACTIVATED CARBON

ASC Whetlerite is used for removal of reactive gases from streams of air. Of importance to the military is its ability to remove HCN, (CN)2 and AsH3 through reaction/chemisorption with copper, chromium and silver impregnants. This letter reports a study of ASC Whetlerite (ASC) and ASC Whetlerite treated with triethylenediamine aimed at determining the oxidation state(s) and location of the metal impregnants. These materials contain 8% copper, 3% chromium and 0.2% silver by weight in an activated carbon matrix. Despite the external surface enrichment of the granule with impregnants, the Cu/Cr ratios for both ASC and ASC-TEDA are in excellent agreement with those obtained from chemical analysis.