Synthesis of porous carbon nanotubes/activated carbon composite spheres and their application for vitamin B12 adsorption

Abstract In this paper, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were added to activated carbon to enhance the mesopores. At first, different amounts of CNTs were added to phenolic resin and composite spheres were synthesized by suspension polymerization. Then, by carbonizing these spheres at 600°C followed by steam activation at 850°C for more than 90 min, we prepared highly developed porous CNTs/activated carbon composite spheres. The composite spheres were characterized by a laser particle size analyzer, scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectrum, and nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms. Results showed that the composite spheres had good sphericity even with high proportion of CNTs (45 wt.%). Analysis also showed that the pore size distribution of the composite spheres containing CNTs was “multi-peak”, especially with 20–100-nm pores. The improved 20–100-nm porous structures in the composite spheres can be ascribed to aggregated pores of CNT bundles. The amount of vitamin B12 adsorbed on the 45 wt.% CNT composite spheres was as high as 32.38 mg/g. The spheres could be used as adsorbents for middle-molecular-weight toxins or large molecules in hemoperfusion.