Investigating adsorption properties of CO2 and CH4 in subbituminous coals from Mamu and Nsukka formations: a molecular simulation approach

Abstract

AbstractThe study aimed to investigate the adsorption properties of methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) in subbituminous coals from the Mamu and Nsukka formations, focusing on the CO2-Enhanced Coalbed Methane (ECBM) method. Proximate, ultimate, and FT-IR analyses determined the quality, age, and functional categories of these coals, confirming their subbituminous nature. Using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, a unique amorphous subbituminous coal model was developed to study adsorption phenomena. Isosteric heat and adsorption isotherms for pure CO2 and CH4 were analyzed, alongside Grand Canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) simulations to assess CO2 adsorption selectivity in a binary CO2 and CH4 mixture. Results showed that CO2 required more isosteric heat than CH4 in single-component scenarios and demonstrated stronger electrostatic interactions with heteroatom groups in the coal model, explaining its higher adsorption preference. In binary adsorption experiments, CO2 exhibited a higher affinity under specific conditions, particularly influenced by pressure variations. At lower pressures, CO2 selectivity decreased rapidly with increasing temperature, while at higher pressures, the influence of temperature diminished. These findings have established a theoretical and practical basis for optimizing CO2-ECBM extraction in Nigeria, highlighting the preferential adsorption of CO2 over CH4 in subbituminous coals from the Mamu and Nsukka formations under varying pressure and temperature conditions. Implementing CO2-ECBM extraction and storage in Nigeria could boost economic viability and help achieve net-zero goals, using insights from this study to guide policy development. Graphical Abstract