Desulfurization properties of modified activated carbon fibers and activated carbon fiber paper

As one of the promising adsorbents, activated carbon fibers were modified in order to enhance their sulfur dioxide removal efficiency by depositing strong oxidants. Potassium permanganate (KMnO ₄ ) was found to be an effective promoter for activated carbon fibers. The optimum content of KMnO ₄ on activated carbon fibers was 43.34 wt% prepared from 6 wt% KMnO ₄ solution. The composition of the challenge gas was found to affect the SO ₂ adsorption capacity of KMnO ₄ modified activated carbon fibers. The presence of water in the mainstream improved the desulfurization properties. Prehumidification of the challenge gas increased the breakthrough capacity. KMnO ₄ modified activated carbon fibers were durable in desulfurization properties during the wet-laying process and was made into activated carbon fiber papers with copolyester as the binder. KMnO ₄ -ACFP was found to be able to maintain the SO ₂ capacity of KMnO ₄ modified activated carbon fibers with a breakthrough capacity of 76 mg SO ₂ /g modified activated carbon fiber and 90% saturation capacity of 186.75 mg SO ₂ /g modified activated carbon fiber. Sulfur content on KMnO ₄ modified activated carbon fibers was increased to 9.47 wt% from 0.045 wt% during the adsorption process which proves the adsorption of sulfur on fiber adsorbents.