• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.198-209
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• 2020

In this study, electrospun nanofibers made of PAN (polyacrylonitrile) were activated through a physical method to obtain an optimized pore structure. In particular, to enhance the surface alkalinity, the activated carbon fibers (ANFs) were impregnated with tetraethylenepentamine (TEPA) with the aid of HNO₃. Then, the low level (3,000 ppm) CO₂ adsorption capacity for each ANF sample was evaluated. The specific surface area of ANFs increased from 308.4 ㎡/g to 839.4 ㎡/g and the total pore volume increased from 7.882 ㎤/g to 27.50 ㎤/g. Although the TEPA impregnation reduced the specific surface area and pore volume of the ANFs due to blocking of micropores, the HNO₃ pre-oxidation enhanced the amino groups tethered, increasing the amine content from 6.42% to 17.19%, and finally, increased the adsorption capacity of CO₂. This study showed that the sample 60-ANF-HNO₃-TEPA, which was activated for 60 minutes and was impregnated with HNO₃ and TEPA, had the best adsorption capacity for low level (0.3%) CO₂ (in a binary mixture with N₂).