CH4 storage on compressed carbons

Compressibility indices and CH4 uptake capacities were determined for three commercially produced carbons, using a specially designed cell, developed for a high pressure thermal gravimetric analyzer. The cell was used during CH4 uptake measurements on non-compacted and compacted carbon materials, while maintaining a constant sample volume. Compressibility, piece density, and CH4 uptake capacities were measured for carbons having different particle sizes, after physical blending, and before and after coke deposition. Pore size distributions and pore volumes was obtained. Compaction of the activated carbons and a graphite powder increased the CH4 uptake per unit volume of the material beyond that expected from densification. The data suggested that compaction and physical blending provides additional CH4 adsorption sites in inter-particle voids.