Preparation and characterization of PAN-based ultra-fine activated carbon fiber adsorbent

Polyacrylonitrile-based (PAN) ultra-fine fibers were made from electrospining with dimethylformamide as a solvent. And then the fibers were processed via pre-oxidization, carbonization, and steam activation to produce the PAN-based ultra-fine activated carbon fiber (UFACF) adsorbent. According to the specific surface area, pore volume, pore size distribution and phenol adsorption value, the effects of different factors on the yield of activation and adsorption properties of UFACF were investigated through the orthogonal experiment. TG, field emission-scanning electron microscope, FTIR, XRD were employed to characterize the morphology and structure evolvement of UFACF during thermal treatment process. At the optimal conditions, the yield of activation of UFACF was from 37.2 to 58.5%, the maximal specific surface area 1075.1 m2 g−1, and the maximal phenol adsorption value 377.1 mg g−1.