Fabrication and characterization of carbonized and activated cotton nonwovens

A needle-punched cotton nonwoven was produced as a precursor for making activated carbon material. Carbonization and activation of the cotton nonwoven was carried out in a high temperature clean room oven. Microporous properties of the nonwoven in terms of surface area, micropore volume, micropore size, and adsorption isotherms were characterized using a micropore physisorption analyzer. Influence of carbonization temperature and difference between the N ₂ and CO ₂ adsorptions was analyzed. Tensile strength of the cotton nonwoven before and after the carbonization and activation was evaluated. Microporous structure of the carbonized and activated cotton nonwoven was examined using an scanning electron microscopy technique. The study exhibited that the carbonized and activated cotton nonwoven was a special type of renewable and biodegradable material featuring lightweight, high microporosity, and high performance of chemical adsorption and separation.