Preparation and Characterization of High Surface Area Activated Carbon Fibers from Lignin

Activated carbon fibers (ACFs) were successfully prepared from softwood lignin, which was isolated with polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG-400) as a solvolysis reagent, by water steam activation. The pore characterization and adsorption property of ACFs were investigated. The results showed that all the ACFs with more micropores exhibited high specific surface area and total pore volume which increased with the activation time prolonging; the highest ones were around 3100 m2/g and 1.5 mL/g, respectively. The specific surface area and total pore volume were much larger than those of other types of lignin-based ACFs and activated charcoal. Besides, with increasing activation time, the amount of graphitic carbon, which was the main compound on the surface of ACFs, decreased, while the amount of functional groups containing C–O slightly increased. In addition, the adsorption capacity of ACFs for methylene blue was highly increased as the activation time increased. Accordingly, lignin isolated with PEG is a promising precursor for ACF production.