Adsorption of Perfluorocarbon Surfactant on Activated Carbon Adsorbents

Abstract

The perfluorocarbon decontamination process using a dilute solution of a high molecular weight fluorinated surfactant in a perfluorocarbon liquid is very effective for the removal of micron sized hot particulate from surfaces in a hot cell. After the decontamination process, the removal of the fluorinated anionic surfactant within the perfluorocarbon solution through adsorption using a carbon adsorbent is needed for the reuse of spent perfluorocarbon. From the experimental results on the adsorption behaviour of a surfactant in a perfluorocarbon solution in terms of the structural and chemical properties of the activated carbon fiber and active carbon, it was found that the structural properties of the carbon adsorbent, particularly the surface area, have an important influence on the adsorption behaviour, rather than the chemical properties. A ACF-15 adsorbent with a large surface area has an excellent adsorption efficiency of 56 %, compared with other adsorbents such as ACF-7, AC-45X100 or AC-20X45.