The potential of piezoelectric sensors for characterization of activated carbon cloth applied in adsorption of phenols from air

Abstract

Characterisation of activated carbon cloth (ACC) applied for phenols adsorption from the air was performed by a pair of coated piezoelectric quartz crystals as sensors. ACC cloth was impregnated with specific organic compounds, and its sorption properties were monitored in a dynamic flow system. The concentration of phenol was permanently controlled using one coated crystal as the referent inlet and the other one as the indicator outlet sensor. Frequency responses of both sensors in the system provided the data for considering the breakthrough points, and the other sorption parameters. It was concluded that ACC impregnated with specific compounds specially with poly(vinyl pirrolidone) have an optimal capacity from the point of view of both physical adsorption and chemisorption. Also, piezoelectric quartz crystals coated with Triton X-100 and 4-amino-antipyrine were the sensitive tools for the monitoring of sorption process of phenols from the air onto the impregnated ACC.