Waste Cotton Fibers Based Activated Carbon: Optimization of Process and Product Characterization

Waste cotton fibers were used to produce activated carbon fiber (ACF) via chemical activation method with phosphoric acid. The effect of different operational parameters on the adsorption capacity and yield of activated carbon fibers was studied by Taguchi experimental design. Optimized conditions were: Activation temperature of 450 degrees C, activation time of 0.5 h, impregnation ratio of 2, and the rate of temperature rising of 10 degrees C min(-1). The activated carbon fiber produced under optimized conditions was characterized by pore structure analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray energy-dispersion spectroscopy (EDS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD). The obtained results showed that the produced activated carbon has developed porous structure, fibrous shape, predominantly amorphous structure, large number of oxygen functional groups, and acidic nature.