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Activated carbons of various features were produced by the impregnation of local coal samples that were taken from Kilimli region of Zonguldak (Turkey) with chemical agents KOH, NaOH and ZnCl2 at different temperatures (600–800 °C) and concentrations (1:1–6:1 agent:coal), for their evaluation in CO2 adsorption studies. BET, DR, t-plot and DFT methods were used for the characterization of carbon samples based on N2 adsorption data obtained at 77 K. The pore sizes of activated carbons produced were generally observed to be in between 13–25 Å, containing highly micropores. Mesopore formations were higher in samples treated with ZnCl2. The highest value for the BET surface area was found as 2,599 m2 g−1 for the samples treated with KOH at 800 °C with a KOH to coal ratio of 4:1. It was observed that the CO2 adsorption capacities obtained at atmospheric pressure and 273 K were considerably affected by the micropore volume and surface area. The highest CO2 adsorption capacities were found as 9.09 mmol/g (28.57 % wt) and 8.25 mmol g−1 (26.65 % wt) for the samples obtained with KOH and NaOH treatments, respectively, at ratio of 4:1. The activated carbons produced were ordered as KOH>NaOH>ZnCl2, according to their surface areas, micropore volumes and CO2 adsorption capacities. The low-cost experimental methods developed by the utilization of local coals in this study enabled an effective capture of CO2 before its emission to atmosphere.

This paper investigates the methane adsorption characteristics of activated carbons produced from coal by activation with KOH, NaOH and ZnCl2 treatments at different agent to coal ratios (1:1–6:1) and temperatures (600–800 °C) under N2 flow. CH4 adsorption capacities and desorption behaviors of the activated carbons were examined at 0 °C and 25 °C. The relationship between CH4 adsorption characteristics and surface properties of activated carbons, such as BET surface area determined by N2 adsorption at −196 °C, and micropore volume determined by CO2 adsorption at 0 °C were investigated. Optimal results for CH4 adsorption at 0 °C and 25 °C were obtained for the activated carbon samples obtained with KOH treatment at 800 °C at 4:1 ratio, as 2.67 and 1.12 mmol/g, respectively. The results have shown that CH4 adsorption increased proportionally with micropore volume of activated carbons, whereas BET surface area does not exhibit an exact consistency. CH4 adsorption-desorption isotherms at 25 °C have shown that an increase in mesopore formation caused a decrease in adsorption; but allowed desorption to be reversible. Higher methane adsorption capacities were obtained from activated carbons produced from coal by various treatments in this study than most of the reported results in literature at the similar conditions, indicating the suitability of the evaluated materials for industrial applications of methane storage.

Activated carbon samples were developed from coal samples obtained from a coal mine, rat (Zonguldak, Turkey) and anthracite (Siberia, Russia), applying pyrolysis in a temperature range of 600-900 °C under N 2 flow, and activation using chemical agents such as KOH, NH 4 Cl, ZnCl 2 at 650 °C. Nitrogen adsorption at low temperature (77 K) was used to characterize the activated carbon samples, and their pore structure properties including pore volume, pore diameter and pore size distribution were determined by means of the t-plots and DFT methods. The surface area values were higher for rat coal samples than for anthracite one, and for the rat coal samples treated with KOH + NH 4 Cl + ZnCl 2 at 650 °C [Rat650(2)] there are highest surface area and total pore volume, 315.6 m 2 •g −1 and 0.156 ml•g −1 , respectively. The highest value of the hydrogen sorption capacity was found as 0.71% (by mass) for the rat coal sample obtained by KOH + ZnCl 2 treatment at 650 °C [Rat650(1)].

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