Porous block nanofiber composite filters
Porous block nano-fiber composite ( 110 ), a filtration system ( 10 ) and methods of using the same are disclosed. An exemplary porous block nano-fiber composite ( 110 ) includes a porous block ( 100 ) having one or more pores ( 200 ). The porous block nano-fiber composite ( 110 ) also includes a plurality of inorganic nano-fibers ( 211 ) formed within at least one of the pores ( 200 ).
1. A filtration system comprising:
a flow-through chamber having an inlet and an outlet; and
a porous block nano-fiber composite filtration medium disposed within the flow-through chamber, the filtration medium comprising:
a porous carbon block formed from porous carbon and having one or more pores; and
a plurality of inorganic nano-fibers formed within at least one of the pores of the porous carbon block.
2. The filtration system of claim 1 wherein the inorganic nano-fibers are formed from at least one of: an aluminate, titanate, or inorganic oxide.
3. The filtration system of claim 1 wherein the inorganic nano-fibers are at least one of: boehmite, gamma alumina, or alpha alumina.
4. The filtration system of claim 1 wherein the inorganic nano-fibers are formed using a precursor material which includes at least one of the following: TiO 2 , Al(OH) 3 , Al(Ac) 2 OH, or Al(Ac)(OH) 2 .
5. The filtration system of claim 1 wherein the inorganic nano-fibers are formed using a hydrothermal process.
6. The filtration system of claim 1 used for absorption of at least one of biologicals or pathogens.
7. A porous block nano-fiber composite comprising:
a porous carbon block formed from porous carbon and having one or more pores; and
a plurality of inorganic nano-fibers formed within at least one of the pores of the porous carbon block.
8. The porous block nano-fiber composite of claim 7 wherein the inorganic nano-fibers are formed from at least one of: an aluminate, titanate, or inorganic oxide.
9. The porous block nano-fiber composite of claim 7 wherein the inorganic nano-fibers are at least one of: boehmite, gamma alumina, or alpha alumina.
10. The porous block nano-fiber composite of claim 7 wherein the inorganic nano-fibers are formed using a precursor material which includes at least one of the following: TiO 2 , Al(OH) 3 , Al(Ac) 2 OH, or Al(Ac)(OH) 2 .
11. The porous block nano-fiber composite of claim 7 wherein the inorganic nano-fibers are formed using a hydrothermal process.
12. The porous block nano-fiber composite of claim 7 adapted for use as a filter for absorption of at least one of biologicals or pathogens.
13. The porous block nano-fiber composite of claim 7 adapted for use as a filter for absorption of at least one heavy metal.
14. The porous block nano-fiber composite of claim 7 wherein the inorganic nano-fibers are formed using a hydrothermal process comprising:
providing an un-modified porous carbon block and an inorganic precursor material in water in a process chamber;
heating and pressurizing the process chamber to produce a porous block nano-fiber composite product; and
incorporating the porous block nano-fiber composite product as an active element of a filtration medium.
15. A method for producing a porous block nano-fiber composite, comprising:
providing a porous carbon block and an inorganic precursor material in water in a process chamber; and
hydrothermally producing a porous carbon block nano-fiber composite product, wherein the hydrothermally producing comprises synthesizing inorganic nano-fibers within pores of the porous carbon block.
16. The method of claim 15 further including incorporating the porous carbon block nano-fiber composite product as an active element of a filtration medium.
17. The method of claim 15 wherein the hydrothermally producing includes at least one of heating or pressurizing.
18. The method of claim 15 wherein the inorganic nano-fibers are formed from at least one of: an aluminate, titanate, or inorganic oxide.
19. The method of claim 15 wherein the inorganic nano-fibers are at least one of: boehmite, gamma alumina, or alpha alumina.
20. The method of claim 15 wherein the inorganic precursor material is at least one of the following: TiO 2 , Al(OH) 3 , Al(Ac) 2 OH, or Al(Ac)(OH) 2 .
21. The method of claim 15 wherein the process chamber is heated to a temperature in a range of 125° C. to 200° C.
22. The method of claim 15 wherein the process chamber is pressurized to a pressure in a range of 50 psi to 100 psi.
23. The method of claim 15 wherein the inorganic nano-fibers have a dry surface area of 200 m 2 /g to 300 m 2 /g.
24. The method of claim 15 wherein the inorganic nano-fibers are 100% boehmite according to x-ray diffraction analysis.
25. The method of claim 15 wherein the porous carbon block nano-fiber composite product is produced in the process chamber after a period of at least 5 hours.
26. A porous carbon block nano-fiber composite filter for biological or inorganic filter applications produced according to the process of claim 15 .
27. The porous carbon block nano-fiber composite filter of claim 26 adapted for absorption of at least one of biologicals or pathogens.
28. The porous carbon block nano-fiber composite filter of claim 26 adapted for absorption of at least one heavy metal.