The objective of this study is to manufacture an efficient activated carbon fiber (ACF) assemblies filter. Cellulose acetate and phenolic resin were dissolved in acetone and coated on a 2 cm-long and 2 cm-wide stainless steel mesh. Various concentrati...
The objective of this study is to manufacture an efficient activated carbon fiber (ACF) assemblies filter. Cellulose acetate and phenolic resin were dissolved in acetone and coated on a 2 cm-long and 2 cm-wide stainless steel mesh. Various concentrations of cellulose acetate and phenolic resin in acetone solution were examined for the extent of coating on the stainless steel mesh using a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA), a surface area analyzer (BET) and a microscope. As a result, the best quality of coating on the stainless steel mesh was obtained with 2 wt,% celluose acetate and 10 wt,% phenolic resin in acetone solution. The ACF filter was also impregnated with ZnCl2, KOH, H3PO4 and Na2CO3, respectively to enhance its adsorption capacity. Iodine number increased by impregnating with the chemical compound in the following order: KOH > ZnCl2 > Na2CO3 > H3PO4. Iodine numbers for the ACF filters impregnated with ZnCl2 (ACFz) and KOH (ACFK) were found to be 972 ~ 1,117 mg/g and 987 ~ 1,183 mg/g respectively.
ACFz and ACFK were tested for the adsorption and desorption of Pb, Cd, Cr, Zn and Cu. The time taken to reach equilibrium was found to be 20 ~ 60 minutes. The adsorption capacities of ACFz at pH 3 were 28.7, 26.0 and 21.9 mg/g for 20 ppm Pb, Cd and Zn, respectively. These were 16.2, 22.1 and 23.0 % higher than the capacities of activated carbon for Pb, Cd and Zn, respectively. In addition, ACFK showed 28.1, 25.0 and 21.7 mg/g and 13.8, 17.4 and 21.9 % higher adsorption capacities compared to activated carbon. The adsorption capacities of both ACFz and ACFK also increased as pH increased in the range of pH 3 to 6. The adsorption of heavy metals on ACFz and ACFk follows Freundlich isotherm (R2 = 0.981 ~ 0.998) and Langmuir isotherm (R2 = 0.886 ~ 0.998).
Desorption tests were conducted with Pb-adsorbed ACFz and ACFK in HCl, H2SO4, EDTA and Na2CO3 solution. Desorption reached equilibrium within 60 minutes. The desorption rate increased as the concentration of the solution increased. Faster desorption was found in the following order of solution : HCl > H2SO4 > EDTA > Na2CO3.