EXTREMELY LARGE MESOPOROUS CARBON-FIBERS SYNTHESIZED BY THE ADDITION OF RARE-EARTH-METAL COMPLEXES AND THEIR UNIQUE ADSORPTION BEHAVIORS

Extremely highly mesoporous activated carbon fibers (see Figure) have been synthesized for the first time from pitch fibers containing rare earth metal complexes. These fibers have potential applications in the purification of drinking water, for example, owing to their ability t o absorb giant molecules such as humic acid. Investigations of the abs orption behavior of the fibers are reported.