Equilibrium Analysis of Hydrogen Adsorption on Activated Carbon

Abstract

For developing carbon based adsorbents for hydrogen storage, Staram PCTPro E&E was employed and activated carbon SAC-02 having specific surface area about 2074m2/g was selected to measure isotherms of hydrogen adsorption respectively from temperature range 77.15K-110.15K and 253.15K-293.15K. Isosteres of hydrogen adsorption on the activated carbon was then plotted to determine the isosteric heat of hydrogen adsorption, and temperature dependent of Henry law constants were further applied to set the limit isosteric heat of adsorption at zero surface coverage. Results show that the isosteric heat of adsorption is about 3.6-5.4kJ/mol with a mean value 4.38kJ/mol at zero surface coverage. Results also reveal that adsorption isosteres of adsorption data at different temperature regions bring about a different isosteric heat of adsorption due to the variation in contributions from thermal motion of adsorbate molecules. Conclusions are drawn that adsorption isosteres on the adsorption data in correspondence with the lowest and highest temperatures of the hydrogen storage system should be carried out to determine the isosteric heat of adsorption for effectively managing the thermal effect.