Sorption of Hydrogen Cyanide onto Activated Carbon Cloth Impregnated with Metallo-organic Compounds

Abstract

Activated carbon cloth (ACC) was impregnated with metallo-organic compounds consisting of the following cations: copper, silver, iron, magnesium, and aluminum, and the following anions: acetate, oxalate, tartrate, stearate, and citrate. Impregnation was performed in order to increase the chemisorptive capacity of the cloth for bonding hydrogen cyanide. Characterization of all carbon samples by determining the cation and anion contents of impregnants on the cloth was performed by atomic absorption spectrometry and ion and gas chromatography. The image of the surface composition and morphology of the materials were made by scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) with simultaneous local energy-dispersive analysis (EDS). The surface analysis was also performed by ESCA and XPS techniques. Another purpose of the investigation was to find an optimal mechanism for metallo-organic salts impregnation of ACC. Sorption properties of ACC were examined for hydrogen cyanide and benzene in the gas phase by a standard gravimetric procedure with the use of a Cahn RG electrobalance. It was concluded that samples impregnated with copper(II) tartrate, silver(I) citrate, and iron(III) citrate have an optimal sorption capacity from the point of view of both physical adsorption and chemisorption. The salts of magnesium and aluminum which were used have no affinity for HCN bonding.

Key Words:

• Activated carbon cloth
• Impregnation
• Metallo-organic salts
• Chemisorption
• Hydrogen cyanide