Fibrous adsorbents, such as activated carbon fibers (ACF) have acknowledged advantages of rapid adsorption rate and ease of modification compared with granular and powdered adsorbents. Based on the surface modification of lyocell-based ACF, we observed different surface characteristics of ACF samples with variation in the mixing ratio and impregnation time of H3PO4, NaCl, and KMnO4 solution. For an engineering application, we also explored the adsorption characteristics of thusproduced ACF samples onto volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Isothermal adsorption experiments were performed using toluene and benzene as adsorbates. Results indicate that both physical and chemical surface properties have an effect on the adsorption of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

In this research, an effective method for reducing the fibrillation of lyocell fibers, which are spun from a solution of cellulose in N-methyl morpholine-N-oxide(NMMO), through consecutive chemical treatments. Undried solution-spun cellulosic fiber was firstly treated with 10 to 30 wt% of multifunctional crosslinking agents, such as ethylene glycol poly(3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl) ether, and then dipped into alkaline solution to introduce epoxy functions. Finally steam condition was applied to occur a chemical crosslinking in order to reduce the fibrillation on the surface of fibers. Fibrillation was also reduced significantly by adding extra Na2SO4 in NaOH solution. In addition, Antifibrilllated lyocell fibers show the slightly higher dyeability(4 %) to Cibacron Blue without serious reduction of mechanical properties.