Observation of activated carbon fibres with SEM and AFM correlation with adsorption data in aqueous solution

Activated carbon fibres are new adsorbents, which seem very promising for a ir or water treatment. In this work, rayon fibres which have been carbonize d and activated in the form of woven cloths, are studied by means of two ki nds of microscopy: Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Atomic Force Micr oscopy (AFM). The resulting observations show the effect of carbonization a nd activation on the fibre surface structure. The influence of activation c onditions (oxidation gas, temperature and duration) is studied and confirme d by N-2 adsorption. The specific porosity properties of fibres are then us ed to adsorb different organic compounds in aqueous solutions, with low mol ecular weights (aromatics like phenol) and high molecular weights (humic su bstances). A good correlation is found between these adsorption data and th e: microscopic observations. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights rese rved.