Adsorption of methane on novel corn grain-based carbon monoliths

Abstract

Methane adsorptions on novel corn grain-based carbon monoliths were studied at three different temperatures (293.150, 303.150 and 313.150) K and at pressure upto 35 atm in a volumetric adsorption apparatus. The mass basis methane adsorption results indicated the increase in methane adsorption capacities of carbon monoliths with increasing surface area, total pore volume and micropore volume. On the other hand, the influence of the packing density was noted in the volume basis results. The maximum volumetric methane uptake of the corn grain-based carbon monolith was observed as 100 V/V at 293.150 K and 35 atm. The virial isotherm model was successfully used for the correlation of experimental results. The Henry’s constant and Clausius-Clapeyron equation were used to describe the interaction between the guest molecules and adsorbent at low surface coverage, and the energetic heterogeneous surface nature of the adsorbent, respectively. The surface of the prepared carbon monoliths was found to be energetically heterogeneous according to the results from the thermodynamical analyses.