Adsorptive monolith including activated carbon and method for making said monlith

An adsorptive monolith made according to a process comprising the steps of:

• (a). extruding an extrudable mixture through an extrusion die such that a monolith is formed having a shape wherein the monolith has at least one passage therethrough and the extrudable mixture comprises:
• activated carbon;
• ceramic forming material;
• flux material;
• and
• water,
• the mixture being capable of maintaining the shape of the monolith after extrusion and during drying of the monolith;
• (b). drying the extruded monolith;
• and
• (c). firing the dried monolith at a temperature and for a time period sufficient to fuse the ceramic material together and form a ceramic matrix.

A method for drying a wet extruded monolith comprising activated carbon, ceramic forming material, and water comprising the steps of:

• placing the wet extruded monolith in a vacuum chamber initially having atmospheric temperature and pressure within the vacuum chamber;
• reducing the pressure within the vacuum chamber at a rate and to a level sufficient to freeze the water in the monolith;
• and
• maintaining the reduced pressure within the vacuum chamber for a time sufficient for the frozen water in the monolith to sublime until the monolith is dry.

A method for drying a wet extruded monolith comprising activated carbon, ceramic forming material, and water comprising the steps of:

• freezing the water in the extruded monolith;
• placing the frozen extruded monolith in a vacuum chamber initially having a pressure within the vacuum chamber of atmospheric pressure;
• reducing the pressure and/or temperature within the vacuum chamber at a rate and to a level sufficient to keep the water in the monolith frozen;
• and
• maintaining the reduced pressure and/or temperature within the vacuum chamber for a time sufficient for the frozen water in the monolith to sublime until the monolith is dry.