Influence of the Porous Structure of Activated Carbons on the Retention of Cigarette Smoke Constituents

Cigarette smoke is a significant source of indoor air pollution, containing particulate matter and numerous volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds. This study evaluates the adsorption performance of two commercial activated carbons, Nuchar SA 1500 (SA) and Filtercarbon PHA (PHA), correlating their pore structure with their ability to retain cigarette smoke contaminants. A two-stage laboratory filtration system was developed to analyze the non-retained fraction using a downstream cellulose filter, employed as an indirect indicator of adsorption efficiency. BET/NLDFT, SEM/EDS, and thermogravimetric analyses show that Nuchar SA 1500, characterized by a more developed micro-mesoporous network, retains a larger fraction of particulate matter and condensable compounds compared with Filtercarbon PHA. Based on preliminary investigations, which revealed a markedly higher adsorption behavior for Nuchar SA 1500, the analytical focus was directed toward this material; consequently, GC–MS analysis was performed only on Nuchar SA 1500, excluding Filtercarbon PHA.