A new filter media of nonwoven composite with activated carbon fibers

Fibrous materials are widely used for filter media because of their high particle filtration efficiency (FE) and low-pressure drop characteristics. Activated carbon particles or fibers are frequently inserted into the filter media to add absorption ability for odors and chemical vapors. However the insertion techniques affect the holding capability of the activated carbon materials in the substrate fibers and therefore the application of the composite, as well as the absorption ability Mixing latex with the carbon particles and then dipping the filter media into the mixture is a very common technique to insert carbon particles into the filter media. However the absorption strength of the carbon particles is reduced by the coverage of latex on the meso-pores of the carbon particles. This project uses three different weight ratios, viz., 15016, 30% and 45%, of activated carbon fibers embedded into a meltblown polypropylene (PP) fibers stream to make filter composites on a meltblown line. The FE and the chemical vapor absorption ability in terms of break-through and saturation times of these composites of activated carbon fibers as well as the latex-dipped composite of carbon particles will be presented The carbon fiber insertion processes and the experimental results will be discussed.