PAN-based carbon nanofiber absorbents prepared using electrospinning

This study takes polyacrylonitrile (PAN) as a raw material for PAN-based nanofiber nonwoven prepared using electrospinning. First we construct a thermal-stable process for the fabrication of oxidized nanofiber nonwovens as the precursor. A semi-open high-temperature erect furnace is then used with steam as the activator, through carbonization and activation processes to prepare carbon nanofiber absorbents continuously. The experiment varies the production rate and activator flow rate to prepare carbon nanofiber absorbents. Experimental results show that carbon nanofiber adsorbents are primarily made up of micropores and mesopores, averaging under 20 Å. Given a production rate of 10–20 cm/min with a matching activator feed rate of 120 ml/min, the specific surface area can reach about 1000 m2/g, producing an adsorption ratio of carbon tetrachloride over 200 %.