Generic placeholder image

Recent Innovations in Chemical Engineering

Author(s): Mohd Saufi Md Zaini and Syed Shatir A. Syed-Hassan*

DOI: 10.2174/2405520415666220425110926

DownloadDownload PDF Flyer Cite As
Effects of Different Physical Activation Agents on Adsorbent Pore Development and Methane Uptake

Page: [127 - 137] Pages: 11

  • * (Excluding Mailing and Handling)

Explore Articles
About Journal
For Authors
For Editors
For Reviewers

Abstract

Introduction: The effects of different physical activation agents on carbon material pore development and the subsequent methane adsorption were studied.

Methods: Palm Kernel Shell (PKS) as a carbon precursor was pre-treated with ZnCl2 and activated for two hours with (i) CO2, (ii) steam, and (iii) the combination of CO2 and steam (in series).

Results: The findings indicate that the combination of two activation agents in series resulted in a considerably high value of methane uptake of 118.73 V/V at 10 bar. Compared to the activation with a single activating agent (steam or CO2), double activation agents produced Activated Carbon (AC) with a higher BET surface area of 869.8 m2/g and a total pore volume of 0.47 cm3/g. The obtained carbon materials were predominantly microporous, with 92.08% micropores and 7.92% mesopores, respectively.

Conclusion: The results show that combining two activation agents with different diffusivity and reactivity significantly affects carbon pore development for methane adsorption.

Keywords: Adsorbent, palm kernel shell, activated carbon, methane adsorption, porosity, mesopores.

Graphical Abstract

[1]
Zaini MSM, Jalil MJ. A preliminary study of the sustainability of oil palm biomass as feedstock: Performance and cha-llenges of the gasification technology in Malaysia. Kem u Ind 2021; 70(11–12): 717-28.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.15255/KUI.2020.077]
[2]
Gao Y, Yue Q, Gao B, Li A. Insight into activated carbon from different kinds of chemical activating agents: A review. Sci Total Environ 2020; 746: 141094.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141094] [PMID: 32745853]
[3]
Romanos J, Sweany S, Rash T, et al. Engineered porous carbon for high volumetric methane storage. Adsorpt Sci Technol 2014; 32(8): 681-91.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1260/0263-6174.32.8.681]
[4]
Tabatabaei Shirazani M, Bakhshi H, Rashidi A, Taghizadeh M. Starch-based activated carbon micro-spheres for ad-sorption of methane with superior performance in ANG technology. J Environ Chem Eng 2020; 8: 4.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2020.103910]
[5]
Syed-Hassan SSA, Zaini MSM. Optimization of the preparation of activated carbon from palm kernel shell for metha-ne adsorption using Taguchi orthogonal array design. Korean J Chem Eng 2016; 33(8): 2502-12.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11814-016-0072-z]
[6]
Gregg SJ, Sing KSW, Salzberg HW. Adsorption surface area and porosity. J Electrochem Soc 1967; 114(11): 279C.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1149/1.2426447]
[7]
Dubinin MM, Kadlec O. New ways in determination of the parameters of porous structure of microporous carbona-ceous adsorbents. Carbon NY 1975; 13(4): 263-5.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0008-6223(75)90026-3]
[8]
Lastoskie C, Gubbins KE, Quirke N. Pore size distribution analysis and networking: Studies of microporous sorbents. Stud Surf Sci Catal 1994; 87: 51-60.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0167-2991(08)63064-5]
[9]
Braslavsky SE. Glossary of terms used in photochemistry, (IUPAC Recommendations 2006). Pure Appl Chem 2007; 79(3): 293-465.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1351/pac200779030293]
[10]
Sajjadi B, Chen W-Y, Egiebor NO. A comprehensive review on physical activation of biochar for energy and environ-mental applications. Rev Chem Eng 2019; 35(6): 735-76.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/revce-2017-0113]
[11]
González JF, Encinar JM, Gonzalez-Garcia CM, et al. Preparation of activated carbons from used tyres by gasification with steam and carbon dioxide. Appl Surf Sci 2006; 252(17): 5999-6004.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2005.11.029]
[12]
Md Zaini MS, Hassan SSAS. Comparative effects of activation by co2, steam and their sequential combinations on the pore structure of carbon material produced from ZnCl2-treated oil palm kernel shell. Recent Innov Chem Eng 2018; I(1): 50-9.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/2405520411666180427112212]
[13]
van Kampen J, Boon J, van Berkel F, Vente J, van Sint Annaland M. Steam separation enhanced reactions: Review and outlook. Chem Eng J 2019; 374: 1286-303.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2019.06.031]
[14]
Nasrullah A, Saad B, Bhat AH, et al. Mangosteen peel waste as a sustainable precursor for high surface area mesopo-rous activated carbon: Characterization and application for methylene blue removal. J Clean Prod 2019; 211: 1190-200.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.11.094]
[15]
Prauchner MJ, Rodríguez-Reinoso F. Preparation of granular activated carbons for adsorption of natural gas. Microporous Mesoporous Mater 2008; 109(1-3): 581-4.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.micromeso.2007.04.046]
[16]
Mosher K, He J, Liu Y, Rupp E, Wilcox J. Molecular simulation of methane adsorption in micro- and mesoporous car-bons with applications to coal and gas shale systems. Int J Coal Geol 2013; 109–110: 36-44.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.coal.2013.01.001]
[17]
Chong L, Sanguinito S, Goodman AL, Myshakin EM. Molecular characterization of carbon dioxide, methane, and wa-ter adsorption in micropore space of kerogen matrix. Fuel 2021; 283: 119254.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2020.119254]
[18]
Pallarés J, González-Cencerrado A, Arauzo I. Production and characterization of activated carbon from barley straw by physical activation with carbon dioxide and steam. Biomass Bioenergy 2018; 115: 64-73.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2018.04.015]
[19]
Nabais JMV, Nunes P, Carrott PJM, Ribeiro Carrott MML, García AM, Díaz-Díez MA. Production of activated carbons from coffee endocarp by CO2 and steam activation. Fuel Process Technol 2008; 89(3): 262-8.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fuproc.2007.11.030]
[20]
Ghouma I, Jeguirim M, Dorge S, Limousy L, Ghimbeu CM, Ouederni A. Activated carbon prepared by physical activa-tion of olive stones for the removal of NO2 at ambient temperature. C R Chim 2015; 18(1): 63-74.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.crci.2014.05.006]
[21]
Zhou J, Luo A, Zhao Y. Preparation and characterisation of activated carbon from waste tea by physical activation using steam. J Air Waste Manag Assoc 2018; 68(12): 1269-77.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10962247.2018.1460282] [PMID: 29667515]
[22]
Bachrun SN. AyuRizka, S. Annisa, H. Arif. Preparation and characterization of activated carbon from sugarcane ba-gasse by physical activation with CO2 gas. IOP Conf Series Mater Sci Eng 2016; 105(1): 12027.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1757-899X/105/1/012027]
[23]
Smets K, De Jong M, Lupul I, et al. Rapeseed and raspberry seed cakes as inexpensive raw materials in the production of activated carbon by physical activation: Effect of activation conditions on textural and phenol adsorption characte-ristics. Materials (Basel) 2016; 9(7): E565.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ma9070565] [PMID: 28773684]
[24]
Chang CF, Chang CY, Tsai WT. Effects of burn-off and activation temperature on preparation of activated carbon from corn cob agrowaste by CO2 and steam. J Colloid Interface Sci 2000; 232(1): 45-9.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1006/jcis.2000.7171] [PMID: 11071731]
[25]
Alvarez J, Lopez G, Amutio M, Bilbao J, Olazar M. Physical activation of rice husk pyrolysis char for the production of high surface area activated carbons. Ind Eng Chem Res 2015; 54(29): 7241-50.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.iecr.5b01589]
[26]
Hidayu AR, Muda N. Preparation and characterization of impregnated activated carbon from palm kernel shell and coconut shell for CO2 capture. Procedia Eng 2016; 148: 106-13.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2016.06.463]
[27]
Arami-Niya A, Wan Daud WMA, Mjalli FS, Abnisa F, Shafeeyan MS. Production of microporous palm shell based ac-tivated carbon for methane adsorption: Modeling and optimization using response surface methodology. Chem Eng Res Des 2012; 90(6): 776-84.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cherd.2011.10.001]
[28]
Daud WMAW, Ali WSW, Sulaiman MZ. Effect of activation temperature on pore development in activated carbon produced from palm cell. J Chem Technol Biotechnol 2003; 78(1): 1-5.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jctb.712]
[29]
Azevedo DCS, Araújo JCS, Bastos-Neto M, Torres AEB, Jaguaribe EF, Cavalcante CL. Microporous activated carbon prepared from coconut shells using chemical activation with zinc chloride. Microporous Mesoporous Mater 2007; 100(1–3): 361-4.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.micromeso.2006.11.024]
[30]
Prauchner MJ, Rodríguez-Reinoso F. Chemical versus physical activation of coconut shell: A comparative study. Microporous Mesoporous Mater 2012; 152: 163-71.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.micromeso.2011.11.040]
[31]
Rahman KA. Experimental and theoretical studies on adsorbed natural gas storage system using activated carbons 2011.