An alternative activation method for the enhancement of methane storage capacity of nanoporous aluminium terephthalate, MIL-53(Al)

An alternative solvent extraction method is reported for the activation of hydrothermally synthesized aluminium terephthalate, MIL-53(Al) eliminating the calcination step conventionally used for the removal of unreacted benzenedicarboxylic acid entrapped in the cavities/pores of as-synthesized MIL-53(Al). The surface area and micropore volume of the MIL-53(Al) activated by solvent extraction method (1235 m(2)/g) were higher than the MIL-53(Al) activated by conventional calcination method (1073 m(2)/g). Methane adsorption studies on MIL-53(Al) samples were carried out at 303 K up to 35 bar pressure. The solvent extracted MIL-53(Al) showed an enhanced methane storage capacity of 186 cm(3)/cm(3) compared to the calcined MIL-53(Al) (158 cm(3)/cm(3)) at 303 K and 35 bar.