Activated carbon fibers (ACFs) were treated by electroless plating of CuO to improve their removal performance for volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The properties of these samples(CuO@ACFs) were evaluated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), BET and N2O chemisorption to determine the area and dispersion of metallic CuO. The removal efficiency for benzene was investigated by gas chromatography (GC). The breakthrough time of CuO@ACFs increased by approximately 120% compared to that of untreated ACFs at benzene of 100 ppm. CuO@ACFs removed 100% of the benzene in 20 h, indicating this material can be used as a removal technology for VOCs.

    Abstract
    1 Introduction
    2 Materials and methods
        2.1 Materials and reagents
        2.2 Electroless CuO plating
        2.3 Characterization of the prepared samples
        2.4 Removal of VOCs gas
    3 Results and discussion
        3.1 Surface properties of electroless CuO-plated ACFs
        3.2 Thermal properties of electroless CuO-plated ACFs
        3.3 Textural properties of electroless CuO-plated ACFs
        3.4 N2O chemisorption
        3.5 Removal properties of electroless CuO-plated ACFs
    4 Conclusions
    References

• Min‑Ji Kim(Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, Chungnam National University, Institute of Carbon Fusion Technology (InCFT), Chungnam National University)
• Kyung Hoon Kim(Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, Chungnam National University)
• Yesol Kim(Institute of Carbon Fusion Technology (InCFT), Chungnam National University)
• Byungtae Yoo(National Institute of Chemical Safety)
• Young‑Seak Lee(Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, Chungnam National University, Institute of Carbon Fusion Technology (InCFT), Chungnam National University)