The Application of Microfibrous Entrapped Activated Carbon Composite Material for the Sarin Simulant Dimethyl Methylphosphonate Adsorption

Abstract

Granular activated carbon (GAC) has proven to be an effective adsorbent for removing the chemical warfare agent sarin (GB) and simulants like Dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP). However, it comes with certain limitations, including inadequate contact efficiency, notable mass transfer resistance, and lower bed utilization efficiency. This study synthesized steel fiber-entrapped activated carbon composites (SFEACs), which exhibited a maximum adsorption capacity of 285.3 mg/g at 303 K. Compared with the packed bed (PB) filled with GAC, while the adsorption capacity of SFEACS decreased, there was a substantial increase in the adsorption mass transfer rate. These SFEACs were combined with GAC to create a structural fixed bed (SFB), which demonstrated excellent performance in DMMP removal. Under identical experimental conditions, the DMMP breakthrough curve of SFB exhibited a steeper profile compared to the packed bed (PB) filled with GAC at the same bed height, and the breakthrough time against DMMP vapor could be extended by 13.8%. Furthermore, the adsorption rate constant of the Yoon-Nelson model increased by more than 17.6%, and the unused bed length, according to the Wheeler–Jonas model, decreased by more than 14%.