MAR2PROTECT - Coconut Shell Derived Activated Carbon For Effective Separation Of Greenhouse Gases - DATASET

The need for innovative and efficient adsorptive materials with enhanced structural characteristics that facilitate the selective capture of greenhouse gases (GHGs) is critical. Porosity and surface area play an important role in the adsorptive capture and separation of GHGs, enabling the design of processes that reduce GHGs emissions. This study shows how residual coconut shell (CS) biomass can be reused for the design of novel biomaterials (CS-CO2, CS-ZnCl2) with structural characteristics that promote the selective adsorption of GHGs. Additionally, the results are compared with those obtained with activated carbon monoliths (ACM) and a Metal-Organic Framework (MOF Fe-BTC) to understand the impact of different porous solid matrices on adsorptive GHG capture. In this context, the adsorption performance of difluoromethane (R-32), pentafluoroethane (R-125), 1,1,1,1-tetrafluoroethane (R-134a), 1,1,1,1-trifluoroethane (R-143a), carbon dioxide (CO2), and methane (CH4) on CS-CO2, CS-ZnCl2, ACM and Fe-BTC were measured by gravimetry at 283.15 K, 303.15 K and 323.15 K. The experimental data are correlated using the dual-site Langmuir adsorption model, and the selectivities of the commercial mixtures R-410A, R-407C, R-404A and CO2/CH4 are calculated using the Ideal Adsorption Solution theory (IAST). CS-ZnCl2 has a higher selectivity for R-125 over R-32 in the separation of R-410A at low pressure, and also a higher selectivity for R-407C due to its larger pore volume. In the separation of the R-404A refrigerant blend, CS-CO2 adsorbs predominantly R-134a and R-143a over R-125. Finally, the ACM material preferentially adsorbs CO2 over CH4, owing to its large and elongated micropores that favour the adsorption of the smaller molecule. This study introduces novel and innovative materials to enhance the separation of GHGs mixtures, contributing to a reduction in their emissions.
Publisher name: Zenodo
Last updated: 2026-02-20T15:02:27Z