A conventional porous carbon is still a very promising material for the removal of gaseous pollutants because of its abundant surface functional groups and a high specific surface area. Here, we prepared an environment-friendly uniform N-rich narrow micropore activated carbon, for the removal of formaldehyde, based on steam activation and N-rich with chitin as the starting material. A sample carbonized at 500 °C and steam activated at 800 °C (CAC800) showed a reasonable yield (55%) with uniform and narrow micropores without mesopores but having a balanced nitrogen functionality. CAC800 possesses outstanding formaldehyde removal capabilities under both dry and wet (humidity 45%) conditions. In addition, when compared with commercial activated carbon materials, we clearly demonstrated that the existence of high nitrogen content with uniform and narrow micropores simultaneously removed formaldehyde, effectively.

    Abstract
    1 Introduction
    2 Experimental
        2.1 Sample preparation
        2.2 Characterization of CAC​
        2.3 Experimental setup for formaldehyde removal
    3 Results and discussion
    4 Conclusion
    Acknowledgements 
    References

• Dong‑Yeon Ryu(Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Engineering Science, Kyushu University)
• Doo‑Won Kim(Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology)
• Yu‑Jin Kang(Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering, Hanbat National University)
• Youngjin Lee(Regional Innovation Center for Industrialization of Advanced Chemical Materials, Hanbat National University)
• Koji Nakabayashi(Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Engineering Science, Kyushu University, Institute of Materials Chemistry and Engineering, Kyushu University)
• Jin Miyawaki(Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Engineering Science, Kyushu University, Institute of Materials Chemistry and Engineering, Kyushu University)
• Joo‑Il Park(Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering, Hanbat National University)
• Seong‑Ho Yoon(Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Engineering Science, Kyushu University, Institute of Materials Chemistry and Engineering, Kyushu University)