Department of Chemical Engineering, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506-5102, USA.
Bioresour Technol. 2010 Mar;101(6):1983-91. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2009.10.046. Epub 2009 Nov 28.
Natural gas has emerged as a potential alternative to gasoline due to the increase in global energy demand and environmental concerns. An investigation was undertaken to explore the technical feasibility of implementing the adsorbed natural gas (ANG) storage in the fuel tanks of motor vehicles with activated carbons from biomass, e.g., sorghum and wheat. The grain-based activated carbons were prepared by chemical activation; the experimental parameters were varied to identify the optimum conditions. The porosity of the resultant activated carbons was evaluated through nitrogen adsorption; and the storage capacity, through methane adsorption. A comparative study was also carried out with commercial activated carbons from charcoal. The highest storage factor attained was 89 for compacted grain-based activated carbons from grain sorghum with a bulk density of 0.65 g/cm(3), and the highest storage factor attained is 106 for compacted commercial activated carbons (Calgon) with a bulk density of 0.70 g/cm(3). The storage factor was found to increase approximately linearly with increasing bulk density and to be independent of the extent of compaction. This implies that the grain-based activated carbons are the ideal candidates for the ANG storage.
由于全球能源需求的增加和对环境的关注，天然气已成为汽油的潜在替代品。本研究旨在探讨在机动车辆的燃料箱中使用生物质（如高粱和小麦）制备的活性炭来吸附天然气（ANG）的技术可行性。通过化学活化制备了基于谷物的活性炭，实验参数有所不同，以确定最佳条件。通过氮气吸附评估了所得活性炭的孔隙率，并通过甲烷吸附评估了其存储容量。还对来自木炭的商业活性炭进行了比较研究。对于密度为 0.65 g/cm³的压缩高粱基谷物活性炭，最高存储因子达到 89，对于密度为 0.70 g/cm³的压缩商业活性炭（Calgon），最高存储因子达到 106。存储因子被发现随堆积密度的增加大致呈线性增加，并且与压实程度无关。这意味着基于谷物的活性炭是 ANG 存储的理想候选材料。
