Influence of pore geometry on the design of microporous materials for methane storage

Journal Article · Thu Jan 14 04:00:00 EST 1993 · Journal of Physical Chemistry; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/j100104a036· OSTI ID:6368892

Cracknell, R F; Gordon, P; Gubbins, K E ^[1]

---

1. Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY (United States)

The advantages of storing methane by adsorption in microporous materials are briefly reviewed, and the merits of currently available zeolites and microporous carbons are discussed. Grand canonical ensemble Monte-Carlo computer simulations of methane in slit pores (to model porous carbons) and cylindrical pores (to model zeolites) were carried out to determine the best geometry and the optimal pore size for storing the maximum amount of methane at a given storage pressure. At 274K, the optimal material is a porous carbon of pore size sufficient to contain two adsorbed layers of methane. At 500 psi (3.4 MPa), the energy density of such a material at 274K is only a quarter that of gasoline. These results suggest that an optimal zeolitic material would be a less useful material for adsorptive storage of methane than an optimal porous carbon. 21 refs., 10 figs., 3 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 6368892
• Journal Information: Journal of Physical Chemistry; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Physical Chemistry; (United States) Vol. 97:2; ISSN JPCHAX; ISSN 0022-3654
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
032000* -- Natural Gas-- Transport
Handling
& Storage
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360606 -- Other Materials-- Physical Properties-- (1992-)
ADSORPTION
ALKANES
CARBON
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
DESIGN
ELEMENTS
FUELS
GASOLINE
GEOMETRY
HYDROCARBONS
INORGANIC ION EXCHANGERS
ION EXCHANGE MATERIALS
LIQUID FUELS
MATERIALS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MATHEMATICS
METHANE
MICROSTRUCTURE
MINERALS
NONMETALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
POROSITY
SILICATE MINERALS
SIMULATION
SORPTION
SORPTIVE PROPERTIES
STORAGE
SURFACE PROPERTIES
ZEOLITES