Activated carbons for natural gas storage were produced from Illinois
bituminous coals (IBC-102 and IBC-106) and scrap tires by physical act
ivation with steam or CO2 and by chemical activation with KOH, H3PO4,
or ZnCl2. The products were characterized for N-2-BET area, micropore
volume, bulk density, pore size distribution, and volumetric methane s
torage capacity (V-m/V-s). V-m/V-s values for Illinois coal-derived ca
rbons ranged from 54 to 83 cm(3)/cm(3), which are 35-55% of a target v
alue of 150 cm(3)/cm(3). Both granular and pelletized carbons made wit
h preoxidized Illinois coal gave higher micropore volumes and larger V
-m/V-s values than those made without preoxidation. This confirmed tha
t preoxidation is a desirable step in the production of carbons from c
aking materials. Pelletization of preoxidized IBC-106 coal, followed b
y steam activation, resulted in the highest V-m/V-s value. With roughl
y the same micropore volume, pelletization alone increased V-m/V-s of
coal carbon by 10%. Tire-derived carbons bad V-m/V-s values ranging fr
om 44 to 53 cm(3)/cm(3), lower than those of coal carbons due to their
lower bulk densities. Pelletization of the tire carbons increased bul
k density up to 160%. However, this increase was offset by a decrease
in micropore volume of the pelletized materials, presumably due to the
pellet binder. As a result, V-m/V-s values were about the same for gr
anular and pelletized tire carbons. Compared with coal carbons, tire c
arbons had a higher percentage of mesopores and macropores.