Study of methane and carbon dioxide adsorption capacity by synthetic nanoporous carbon based on pyrogallol-formaldehyde

Abstract

Nanoporous carbons were synthesized at certain conditions by sol–gel method combined with furnace firing in inert atmosphere from pyrogallol-formaldehyde (PF) mixtures in water using perchloric acid as catalyst. Their morphology was studied experimentally to examine their adsorption capacity for greenhouse gases. The preparation conditions of the nanoporous carbons were explored by changing the pyrolysis temperature. The effect of this factor on determining the pore structures and the adsorption capacities were evaluated. The synthesized xerogels were characterized by X-ray diffraction, nitrogen adsorption–desorption isotherms, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential thermal analysis (DTA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results showed that surface areas and nitrogen adsorption capacity are dependent completely on the pyrolysis temperature. Equilibrium and enthalpies studies for the CO2 and CH4 adsorption on PF were measured at room temperature and up to 25 bar. The adsorption capacity on PF was highest for CO2 and then CH4. The best sample shows maximal adsorption capacities as follows 5.50 mmol g−1 of CH4 and 7.62 mmol g−1 of CO2 at 25 bar and 30 °C.