Activated carbon (type Maxsorb-III) and MIL-101(Cr) metal organic framework based composite adsorbent for higher CH4 storage and CO2 capture

We have designed and developed carbon-based metal organic framework (MOF) composite for CH4 storage and CO2 capture. The proposed composite structure namely MAX-MIL was synthesized by in situ incorporation of activated carbon powder (type Maxsorb-III) in MIL-101(Cr) MOF structure via fluorine free hydrothermal reaction method. The porous properties, structure, morphology and thermal stability, chemical functionalities of MAX-MIL composite were measured by N-2 adsorption/desorption data, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis. The gravimetric and volumetric uptakes of CH4 and CO2 onto Maxsorb-III, MIL-101(Cr) MOF and MAX-MIL composite were experimentally measured. The results show that the composite MAX-MIL adsorbs more CH4 and CO2 as compared with original MIL-101(Cr) MOF. The isotherm results provide a basis to identify the importance of addition of small amount of Maxsorb-III into the metal organic frameworks for increasing both volumetric and gravimetric uptakes of CH4 and CO2.