Preparation and adsorption property of multi-walled carbon nanotube-carbon composite foam

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes and phenol formaldehyde resin were precipitated into polyurethane foam. After carbonization at high temperature, multi-walled carbon nanotubes-carbon composite foam (CNTs-C foam) was obtained. FTIR spectra confirms that the surface of CNTs-C foam can be grafted with carboxyl and hydroxyl groups after being activated with mixture of sulfuric acid and nitric acid. These groups can improve adsorption ability of CNTs-C foam. SEM and nitrogen adsorption/desorption results show that there are both macropores and mesopores in CNTs-C foam. Macropores can facilitate free flow of solution in composite foam, and mesopores can adsorb giant molecules. This CNTs-C foam could effectively adsorb Vitamin B12(VB12). Compared with traditional activated carbon particles, this composite foam in macro-scale has great potential as a new adsorbent for simplified process and effective adsorption of biomolecules.