Modification of Activated Carbon with Dual Modifiers for Adsorption of Acrylate VOCs from 3D Printing

In this study, the modified activated carbon (AC) that can be used for the adsorption of acrylate volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from 3D printing, is produced using dual modifiers (H2O2 and KOH). The modification strategy exhibits a number of benefits such as the simple operation, mild conditions, and low-cost process. After the modification, the specific surface area and average pore diameter of the modified AC have been altered. Energy dispersive spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy indicate that compared to the pristine AC, the C element content of the modified AC decreases, whereas the O element content of the modified AC increases. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and the Boehm titration method further suggest a significant increase of oxygen-containing groups on the modified AC. The dynamic adsorption experiments and breakthrough tests indicate that the modification of AC with dual modifiers (H2O2 and KOH) can significantly improve the adsorption performance toward acrylate VOCs, which is promising for use in the adsorption of acrylate VOCs during 3D printing process.