Activated carbon membrane with filamentous carbon for water treatment

A novel composite membrane consisting of an activated carbon membrane with filamentous carbon, applicable to water treatment, was fabricated by a combination of conventional carbonization and thermal deposition. The carbonization was performed after dipping a ceramic support in a latex polymer followed by the application of ferric sulfate [Fe2(SO4)3·nH2O] catalyst. This was followed by CVD from methane at 1050–1100 °C. The resulting membrane therefore consisted of a filamentous carbon layer grown with a combination of the catalyst and deposited hydrocarbon, and an activated carbon layer on a ceramic support. These structural characteristics were confirmed by means of the cut-off of dextran molecules, the pure water permeability, SEM, and the adsorption of phenol. Water treatment experiments using phenol and poly(methyl methacrylate) as model pollutants indicated that this membrane was able to remove dissolved organics of low molecular weight and suspended solids. Also, the filamentous carbon layer successfully prevented the fine particles from sticking on the external surface of the membrane by frequent back washing.