Abstract: Disclosed are novel high performance composite structures comprised of carbon filaments in a matrix selected from the group consisting of polymeric materials, carbon, ceramic materials, and metals. The carbon filaments have a relatively high surface area, electrical resistivity, and crystallinity. The present invention also relates to a method of preparing said carbon filaments by use of an unsupported catalyst.

Abstract: A process for removing contaminants, particularly organic and metal contaminants, from aqueous and gaseous streams by contacting a contaminated stream with graphitic carbon filaments (nanofibers) characterized as having; (i) a surface area from about 50 to 800 m.sup.2 /g, (ii) an electrical resistivity from about 0.3 .mu.ohm.multidot.m to 0.8 .mu.ohm.multidot.m, (iii) a crystallinity from about 5% to about 100%, (iv) a length from about 1 .mu.m to about 100 .mu.m; and (v) a distance from about 0.335 nm to about 0.700 nm between graphite platelets.