Microporous carbons for fuel gas storage

• US 5,614,460 A
• Filed: 08/23/1995
• Issued: 03/25/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Syracuse University
• Original Assignee: Syracuse University
• Inventors: Bandosz, Teresa J., Jagiello, Jacek, Putyera, Karol, Schwarz, James A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Caldarola, Glenn A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BULLOCK, IN SUK C
• Application Number:
  US08/518,553
• Time in Patent Office: 580 Days
• Field of Search: 502/180, 502/416, 502/418, 502/420
• US Class Current: 502/418
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/20 comprising free carbon; comprising carbon obtained by carbonising processes

Abstract

A method of making a microporous carbon material which includes providing a precursor selected from the group consisting of crystalline salts of aromatic sulfonates and nonporous polymeric salts. Heat treatment of such precursors in the temperature range of 350° to 850° C. in an inert oxygen free atmosphere for a sufficient time promotes thermally induced hydrogen abstraction and rearrangement of BSUs which result in the formation of a carbonaceous microporous material having a pore size distribution in the range of about 4-15 Å. The structural and storage characteristics of the microporous carbon materials are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A microporous carbon adsorbent material which has a mercury density of about 0.5 to 1.0 gm/cm³, and which is the product of the pyrolysis of a nonporous crystalline aromatic sulfonate or nonporous polymeric salt, said material being suitable for use as a storage media for light gases, and having a uniform pore size distribution of micropores in the range of about 4 to 15 Å

, and a total specific surface area greater than about 600 m² /gm.

2. The material of claim 1 in which the mercury density of the microporous carbon is at least about 0.5 gm/cm³.

3. The material of claim 1 in which the mercury density of the microporous carbon is in the range of 0.5 to 1.0 gm/cm³.

4. The material of claim 1 in which the micropores comprise about 70 to 85% of said surface area.

5. The material of claim 1 in which the micropores comprise at least about 50% of the total specific surface area of the material.

6. A method of making a microporous carbon material which comprises;

(a) providing a polymeric precursor selected from the group consisting of a crystalline aromatic sulfonate and a nonporous polymeric salt; and

(b) carbonizing said precursor in an oxygen free atmosphere at a temperature in the range of about 350°

to 1000°

C. for a time sufficient to promote thermally induced hydrogen abstraction and rearrangement of basic structural units which result in the formation of a carbonaceous microporous material having a uniform pore size distribution of micropores.

7. The method of claim 6 in which the carbonizing time ranges from about 1 to 4 hours.

8. The method of claim 6 in which the precursor is heated to the carbonizing temperature at the rate of about 5-15 deg C./min.

9. The method of claim 6 in which the pore size distribution of the carbonaceous material is in the range of about 4-15 Å

.

10. The method of claim 6 in which the mercury density of the resulting carbon material is from about 0.5 to 1.0 gm/cm³.

11. The method of claim 6 in which the micropores comprise at least 50% of the surface area of said microporous carbon material.