A. Activated carbon; C. Adsorption; D. Adsorption properties; Microporosity

Coal tar pitch containing finely dispersed KOH was spun centrifugally, followed by stabilization through heating to 330°C under a (1:1) mixture of air and CO2 and carbonization/activation by heating to 850°C under CO2. The activated carbon fiber obtained possessed of a specific surface area of 491 m2g−1 and contained ca. 2% of K as K2CO3 over the peripheral region of fiber. The fiber showed high deodorization ability against 30 ppm of H2S gas in air at ambient temperature. H2S gas did not diffuse to the most interior parts of the fiber and was oxidized around outer regions of the fiber. Elemental sulphur was deposited in the fiber after H2S absorption. The deodorization mechanism was discussed. The role and action of the K2CO3 supported was explained.