ADSORPTION EQUILIBRIA OF BENZENE, TOLUENE, AND XYLENE ON MANGANESE-EMBEDDED PAN ACTIVATED CARBON NANOFIBERS FABLICATED BY ELECTROSPINNING

Abstract

In this research, manganese-embedded activated carbon nanofibers (ACNFs) were prepared from electrospun polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofibers. The average diameter of the PAN fibers was in the range of 200 to 500 nm. After stabilization at 280 °C in air, carbonization at temperature in the range of 800 to 1,000 °C in nitrogen, and activation by steam at 800 °C, the ACNFs were obtained. The activation yield of the nanofibers formed from 10% PAN solution and carbonized at 800, 900 and 1,000 °C were 20%, 16% and 15%, respectively. Meanwhile the activation yield of the fibers electrospun from 8% PAN solution and carbonized at 800, 900 and 1,000 °C were 2%, 10% and 10%, respectively. The functional groups of ACNFs were different from that of polymer fibers. The results showed that the ACNF carbonized at 1,000 °C showed the highest toluene adsorption capacity of 26.83 g toluene/100 g adsorbent due to the highest total pore volume and large mean pore diameter. However when compared to other research, the specific surface area was still lower while having high O/C ratio. Moreover, manganese did not enhance toluene adsorption capacity because steam density and pressure used in the activation was low and remaining manganese in ACNFs become agglomerated on surface and interrupt activation process.