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 acceleratin g activation rate and increasing micropore size. Scanning electron microsco py (SERI) was used to investigate the surface morphology and behavior of si lver particles in carbon fibers during activation. SEM images of the silver -containing fibers at about 70% burn-off were similar to those of nonactiva ted carbon fibers. Characterization of the ACFs studied was performed by us ing nitrogen adsorption isotherms, pore size distributions, silver content data, and adsorption capacities of iodine and methylene blue. Nitrogen adso rption 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 bl ue measured from liquid solutions were similar to those of the pure ACFs. H owever, the average micropore size of ACFs increased with increasing burn-o ff. (C) 1999 Academic Press.