Experimental and theoretical study of the effect of moisture on methane adsorption and desorption by activated carbon at 273.5 K

Adsorption and desorption of methane by activated carbon (AC) at constant temperature and at various pressures were investigated. The effect of moisture was also studied. A volumetric method was used, up to 40 bar, at a temperature of 273.5 K. Results of a dry AC sample were compared with those obtained from a moist sample and two different ACs with different physical and surface properties were used. As expected, the results showed that the existence of moisture, trapped in the AC pores, could lead to a decrease in the amount of methane adsorbed and a decrease in the amount of methane delivered during desorption. To model the experimental results, a large variety of adsorption isotherms were used. The regressed parameters for the adsorption isotherms were obtained using the experimental data generated in the present study. The accuracy of the results obtained from the different adsorption isotherms was favorably compared.