Batch Reactor vs. Microreactor System for Efficient AuNP Deposition on Activated Carbon Fibers

The process of noble metals ions recovery and the removal small fraction of nanoparticles from waste solution is an urgent topic not only from the economic but also ecology point of view. In this paper, the use of activated carbon fibers (ACF) as a “trap” for gold nanoparticles obtained by a chemical reduction method is described. The synthesized nanoparticles were stabilized either electrostatically or electrosterically and then deposited on carbon fibers or activated carbon fibers. Moreover, the deposition of metal on fibers was carried out in a batch reactor and a microreactor system. It is shown, that process carried out in the microreactor system is more efficient (95%) as compared to the batch reactor and allows for effective gold nanoparticles removal from the solution. Moreover, for similar conditions, the adsorption time of the AuNPs on ACF is shortened from 11 days for the process carried out in the batch reactor to 2.5 min in the microreactor system.