Adsorptive removal of nerve gas via activated carbon fiber: Precursor and fabric structure effects

초록

Activated carbon fibers (ACFs) are extensively used to adsorb chemical warfare agents, including nerve agents. Cellulose-based materials are attractive precursors due to their low cost and abundant availability. However, the influence of the precursor material and fabric structure on the adsorption efficiency of ACFs remains unclear. This study investigates cellulose-based ACFs produced from different precursor materials and fabric structures, tested against the nerve agent simulant, dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP) to evaluate their adsorption capabilities. Cotton-based ACFs exhibited considerably higher specific surface area than lyocell-based ACFs, attributed to the higher molecular weight and crystallinity of cotton. Additionally, woven-type ACFs exhibited superior adsorption performance compared to commercial felt-type ACFs due to reduced DMMP migration, which prolonged contact time with adsorption sites. Reducing yarn diameter improved the adsorption performance by lowering the bed void fraction of the adsorption column and facilitating smoother DMMP penetration to the fiber's central region within the yarn. These findings offer valuable insights for applying cellulose-based ACFs in protective clothing against nerve agents.

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