Preparation and Characterization of Activated Carbon Fiber from Paper

Activated carbon fibers (ACFS) with surface area of 1388 m²/g prepared from paper by chemical activation with KOH has been utilized as the adsorbent for the removal of methy-lene blue from aqueous solution. The experimental data were analyzed by Langmuir and Freundlich models of adsorption. The effects of pH value on the adsorption capacity of ACFS were also investigated. The rates of adsorption were found to conform to the kinetic model of Pseudo-second-order equation with high values of the correlation coefficients (R>0.998). The Langmuir isotherm was found to fit the experimental data better than the Feundlich isotherm over the whole concentration range. Maximum adsorption capacity of 520 mg/g at equilibrium was achieved. It was found that pH played a major role in the adsorption process, higher pH value favored the adsorption of MB.