| Carbon monoliths are single structures composed of interconnected channels and can be used as filters to remove pollutants from flow streams via adsorption. The objective of this project was to develop a process using environmentally friendly and cost-effective starting materials that produced mechanically robust carbon monoliths containing appropriate pore microstructures for use in gas mask canisters.;Monoliths with low molecular weight and low amounts of PVA and HMMM had the best combination of strength and low air flow resistance, and sugar acted as the best pore former. There were some production issues encountered, related to mixing and uniaxial pressing, that could be improved to enhance the distribution of organic materials and create homogeneous density throughout, to create a monolith with a continuous pore system possessing wide ranges of pore sizes. Further work needs to be performed to produce monoliths that possess the necessary characteristics to replace packed beds in gas mask canisters.;Keywords: carbon monolith, environmental materials;Various carbon mixture formulations composed of two different carbon black particles were mixed with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) of various molecular weights and levels of hydrolysis, combinations of PVA and hexamethoxymethylmelamine (HMMM), or combinations of PVA, HMMM and organic filler (sugar) in water, pressed into cylinders, dried and pyrolysed under nitrogen for 4 hours. The samples were then characterized for surface area, mechanical strength and air flow resistance using Brunauer Emmett Teller (BET) surface area analysis, compression testing and a pressure drop analysis apparatus, respectively. |
