Shohreh Mirzaei - Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, P.O. Box ۹۱۷۷۹-۴۸۹۴۴, Mashhad, Iran
Ali Ahmadpour - Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, P.O. Box ۹۱۷۷۹-۴۸۹۴۴, Mashhad, Iran
Akbar Shahsavand - Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, P.O. Box ۹۱۷۷۹-۴۸۹۴۴, Mashhad, Iran

The present study investigates the effect of preparation variables of AC on theoptimum amount of BET surface area and bulk density for methane adsorptionpurposes. All activated carbons samples were synthesized through the chemicalactivation method, using KOH chemical agent. The effect of preparation parametersincluding chemical impregnation ratio and activation temperatures was evaluatedon two important characteristics of microporosity and bulk density. The bestperformance of the AC sample was observed at a KOH/anthracite chemical ratio of3, activation temperature of 730ºC. At the optimum condition, the activated carbonacquired convenient microporosity in the matrix structure, with BET surface area of2160 m2/g packing density of 0.53 g/cm3 and methane adsorption capacity of 175V/V.

Microporosity, Bulk density, Methane storage, Activated carbon