Molecular sieve carbons from PET for separations involving CH4, CO2, O2 AND N2

Abstract

A microporous carbon, designated A4A0, was prepared from a commercial PET textile fibre, only by carbonization in a N2 flow. The characterisation based on the adsorption of N2 at 77 K and organics adsorptives at 298 K, where the adsorption of the largest molecules was strongly activated, indicates that the pore mouths already contained same constrictions, and this is an ideal starting point for pore mouth narrowing by CVD of benzene at elevated temperature. The P810 sample obtained after 10 min by CVD treatment maintain its initial adsorption capacities and had a superior performance for O2/N2 and CO2/CH4 separations when compared with the A4A0 or with a commercial CMS, Takeda 3A.