Carbon Molecular Sieves for Air Separation from Nomex Aramid Fibers

Activated carbon fibers prepared from aramid fibers have proved to possess outstanding homogeneity in pore size, most of all when Nomex aramid fiber is used as precursor. Taking advantage of this feature, microporous carbon molecular sieves for air separation have been prepared through carbon vapor deposition of benzene on Nomex-derived carbon fibers activated to two different burnoff degrees. Carbon molecular sieves with good selectivity for this separation and showing acceptable adsorption capacities were obtained from ACFs activated to the two burnoff degrees chosen.Financial support from CICYT (Project 1FD1997-1915) and MCYT (Project BQU2001-2936-C02-02) is gratefully acknowledgedPeer reviewe