ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVATED CARBON-FIBER DERIVED FROM METHYL METHACRYLATE-GRAFTED PHENOLIC RESIN FIBER

Methyl methacrylate-grafted phenolic resin fiber was soaked in AgNO3 aqueous solution to support Ag+ by ion exchange reaction. The fiber supporting Ag+ was carbonized at 900-degrees-C for 30 min in a nitrogen atmosphere, followed by activation at 900-degrees-C under a stream of steam. One of the activated fibers contained 0.58 wt% of silver and showed 2100 m2/g of Specific surface area and 200 MPa of tensile strength. This fiber showed antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli before and after soaking in the flowing tap water for 20 days. The amount of Ag+ dissolved from the fiber into the water is discussed from a viewpoint of practical use.