Converting waste textiles into highly effective sorbent materials

Abstract

Activated carbon fibres with a tubular structure and exfoliated surface were produced utilizing cotton textile waste as the precursor. The synthesized carbon fibres were freeze dried resulting in a tubular structure and large pore size distribution. The absorption properties against various oils and organic solvents were accessed, these fibres showed some of the highest absorption capabilities reported for cellulose based carbons, in particular for olive oil, gasoline and chloroform.