Carbon nanotubes / activated carbon fiber based air filter media for simultaneous removal of particulate matter and ozone

Publication date: 15 November 2017
Source:Building and Environment, Volume 125
Author(s): Shen Yang, Zhenxing Zhu, Fei Wei, Xudong Yang
Indoor environment is faced with complex pollution by particulate matter (PM) and ozone. In this study, we proposed to use carbon nanotubes/activated carbon fiber (CNTs/ACF) to remove both PM and ozone with high removal efficiencies, high quality factor and low pressure resistance. The CNTs/ACF filter media were fabricated through growth of CNTs upon pristine ACF using chemical vapor deposition method. The PM filtration efficiencies of the CNTs/ACF and pristine ACF were measured for different particle sizes. The quality factors of these two media were calculated and compared. The ozone removal efficiency of the CNTs/ACF and ACF were tested as well. Results indicate that growth of CNTs on ACF elevated the media for PM filtration, and increased the quality factor by 48%. The CNTs/ACF presented >99% ozone removal, as high as the ACF. Compared with other CNTs-based filter media that have been proposed in previous studies, the CNTs/ACF exhibited higher quality factor, much lower pressure resistance, higher ozone removal efficiency, and upper-middle PM filtration efficiency.