Adsorption Properties of Activated Carbon Produced from Reed Grass against Musty Smells

Abstract

Adsorption behaviors against musty smells for the activated carbons produced from reed grass, Phragmites communis Trinius, and bamboo, Phyllostachys heterocycla, were investigated and their properties were compared with those for commercial activated carbons from coconut shell. The activated carbons from reed grass shows superior adsorption behavior against both 2-methylisoborneol (2-MIB) and geosmine which cause musty smells although BET surface areas for these activated carbons are in the almost same range. The mean pore diameter, however, for the activated carbon from reed grass is a little larger as compared with other carbons. It seems that the pore size for the activated carbon from reed grass is more suitable for the adsorption of 2-MIB and geosmine.