The use of gas fuel has considerable environmental advantages over traditional types of fuel based on petroleum products or fossil coal. The adsorption technology for methane (natural gas) uptake, storage and transportation can serve as a connecting link in gas supply to customers. The review considers characteristics of adsorption systems for methane storage. The key methods used for the synthesis of microporous carbon adsorbents based on various organic and inorganic carbon-containing compounds are described. Methods for increasing the efficiency of methane storage systems based on carbon adsorbents are analyzed. Theoretical approaches to optimization of the properties of methane – carbon adsorbent systems are discussed. The bibliography includes 174 references.

The experimental data on hydrogen adsorption on five nanoporous activated carbons (ACs) of various origins measured over the temperature range of 303–363 K and pressures up to 20 MPa were compared with the predictions of hydrogen density in the slit-like pores of model carbon structures calculated by the Dubinin theory of volume filling of micropores. The highest amount of adsorbed hydrogen was found for the AC sample (ACS) prepared from a polymer mixture by KOH thermochemical activation, characterized by a biporous structure: 11.0 mmol/g at 16 MPa and 303 K. The greatest volumetric capacity over the entire range of temperature and pressure was demonstrated by the densest carbon adsorbent prepared from silicon carbide. The calculations of hydrogen density in the slit-like model pores revealed that the optimal hydrogen storage depended on the pore size, temperature, and pressure. The hydrogen adsorption capacity of the model structures exceeded the US Department of Energy (DOE) target value of 6.5 wt.% starting from 200 K and 20 MPa, whereas the most efficient carbon adsorbent ACS could achieve 7.5 wt.% only at extremely low temperatures. The initial differential molar isosteric heats of hydrogen adsorption in the studied activated carbons were in the range of 2.8–14 kJ/mol and varied during adsorption in a manner specific for each adsorbent.

The dependence of the relative linear deformation of AUK microporous carbon adsorbent on pressure is studied upon the adsorption of methane in the pressure range of 1 Pa to 6 MPa at 177.65, 216.2,...

Adsorption properties of AU-4 microporous carbon adsorbent have been investigated for evaluating the effectiveness of methane accumulation over the temperature range from 178 to 360 K and at absolute pressures up to 25 MPa. It has been established that, within the pressure and temperature intervals under study, the maximum amount of methane achieved 160 nm³(СН₄)/m³. Efficient accumulation of methane in the AC-4 adsorbent over the entire temperature range was possible only within the interval of pressures from 1 to 7 MPa. When the “methane−AU-4” accumulation system was used at room temperature, the highest effect of adsorption accumulation may be achieved at pressures of 3–7 MPa. The differential and integral adsorption heats have been calculated and the degrees of overheating have been evaluated for methane storage systems with adsorbent.