High performance microspherical activated carbons for methane storage and landfill gas or biogas upgrade

abstract

Microspherical activated carbons were successfully prepared via a novel synthetic route that involves hydrothermal carbonization of a renewable material, sucrose, and activation with K2CO3. The use of K2CO3 resulted in better yields (similar to 50%) and the retention of the spherical shape of the hydrochar, while with the less environmentally desirable and commonly used activating agent, KOH, the process occurs at the expense of the spherical morphology. The superior performance of the K2CO3 activated samples for methane storage and upgrade of landfill gas or biogas results from the combination of several key properties including high packing densities (similar to 0.9 g cm(-3)), high surface areas (up to 1400 m(2) g(-1)) and micropore sizes suitable for methane storage and selective CO2-CH4 separation. In fact, the micropore size distributions assessed from CO2 adsorption data through a methodology not imposing a Gaussian distribution gave meaningful values to explain both the selectivity and storage capacity of samples. Sample activated with K2CO3 at 800 degrees C presenting micropore sizes similar to 0.8 nm and high packing density has high volumetric methane uptake (90 (V/V) at 1000 kPa), close to the best activated carbons reported in the literature. Sample activated with K2CO3 at 700 degrees C has narrower micropores (similar to 0.5 nm) and presents a remarkable selectivity (4-7) in CO2-CH4 mixtures for the upgrade of methane based fuels, like natural gas, landfill gas, and biogas. Although a superactivated carbon (similar to 2400 m(2) g(-1)) was obtained with KOH activation, the low packing density and wider micropores rendered it less effective for both methane storage and upgrade.

keywords

CHEMICAL ACTIVATION; MICROPOROUS CARBONS; NATURAL-GAS; ADSORPTION; REMOVAL; K2CO3; KOH; TEMPERATURE; COMPONENTS; IBUPROFEN

subject category

Chemistry; Energy & Fuels; Materials Science

authors

Mestre, AS; Freire, C; Pires, J; Carvalho, AP; Pinto, ML

our authors

Groups

acknowledgements

The authors thank Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia, Portugal, for financial support through projects PEst-OE/QUI/UI0612/2013 (CQB) and Pest-C/EQB/LA0006/2011 (REQUIMTE) and Operation NORTE-07-0124-FEDER-000067 - NANO-CHEMISTRY. ASM thanks FCT for the Post-doc grant SFRH/BPD/86693/2012. MLP thanks FEDER, QREN, COMPETE, and FCT for financial support to CICECO project FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-037271 (PEst-C/CTM/LA0011/2013) and Investigador FCT contract IF/00993/2012/CP0172/CT0013.

Share this project:

Related Publications

We use cookies for marketing activities and to offer you a better experience. By clicking “Accept Cookies” you agree with our cookie policy. Read about how we use cookies by clicking "Privacy and Cookie Policy".