Preparation of activated carbon fibers from polyvinyl chloride

Waste polyvinyl chloride (PVC) contains high content of chlorine, which is believed to liberate dioxine at its combustion. Efficient removal of chlorine from PVC achieved by selecting the heat-treatment conditions provided free-chlorine PVC based pitch by a two-stage heat-treatment process. The obtained pitch (softening point: 218 degreesC) was spun, stabilized, carbonized and activated to prepare activated carbon fibers (ACF) whose DeSO(x) activity was tested preliminarily and found comparable to other ACF. (C) 2004 Published by Elsevier Ltd.