Sorption charateristics of methane among various rank coals: impact of moisture

Enhanced coalbed methane (ECBM) in deep coal seams is being actively investigated around the world. Since the in situ coal seams are always saturated with water, methane sorption behavior on coal in the presence of water can help accurately assess the amount of recoverable methane. Thus, methane sorption isotherms have been measured on a high-rank anthracite, a low-volatile bituminous, a middle-volatile bituminous and a high-volatile bituminous coal with the manometric technology at 30 °C under six different moisture contents. The Dubinin–Astakhov (D–A) equation was used to fit the experimental sorption isotherm data. In all cases, the moisturized coals exhibited lower sorption capacity than the corresponding dry materials and moisture has a significant effect on CH₄ sorption capacity. The maximum sorption capacity, V ₀, displays a linear decline with the moisture content for the Changcun and Malan samples, but it is nonlinear for the other two coal samples. The net heat of CH₄ sorption, βE, is also reduced by the presence of water, but varies only slightly between a relatively small span of about 8.8 and 10.0 kJ mol^?1 for the dry samples studied, despite the difference in coal rank. In addition, the maximum sorption capacity of CH₄ in dry coals presents the typical “U-shape” trend with coal rank. Moisture has a greater impact on the sorption capacity in low-rank coals than that in high-rank coals. The mechanisms responsible for the effect of moisture on CH₄ sorption among various rank coals are also presented. The pore-blocking effect is the main influencing factor for high-rank anthracite, whereas, the competition sorption is dominant for low-rank coals.     

中变质煤小分子相对煤的吸附及渗流特性影响

为研究煤中小分子对煤的瓦斯吸附及流动特性的影响,采用四氢呋喃溶剂萃取煤中可溶有机小分子,得到萃取后煤样(残煤)。对原煤和残煤分别进行甲烷等温吸附、解吸实验和径向渗流实验;同时,采用氮气吸附法测试了它们的孔隙结构参数。结果表明,残煤的饱和吸附量a值低于原煤,吸附常数b值增大,萃取小分子降低了煤对甲烷的吸附能力,提高了低压段(<4 MPa)煤对甲烷的解吸速率;原煤的孔体积和平均孔径高于残煤,比表面积和微孔孔体积却减少;萃取后,煤粒表面传质阻力和扩散阻力均减小,残煤甲烷解吸速率和解吸量均高于原煤;同一渗流条件下,残煤的渗透率明显高于原煤。分析认为,煤中部分小分子被溶解后,煤孔隙结构的改变,降低了煤对瓦斯的吸附能力,减小了甲烷在煤粒中的内外扩散阻力,扩大了瓦斯在煤中的流动通道,改变了煤层储运特性,为煤储层的化学增透提供依据。     

不同水煤浆分散剂与煤之间的相互作用规律研究 Ⅶ 酸碱脱灰处理煤的性质变化及其对成浆性的影响

研究了酸－碱脱灰处理对鹤壁、淮南和靖远煤的有机组成、表面性质以及成浆性的影响。结果表明，酸－碱脱灰处理后煤质特性都发生了明显变化。主要表现在灰分下降，水分增加，挥发分降低，总碳量和芳香碳增加；氧的质量分数下降，酚羟基氧质量分数增加；硫的质量分数降低。酸－碱脱灰处理后煤的成浆性明显变差，在煤粒度分布、分散剂种类和用量相同时，脱灰处理使鹤壁、淮南、靖远三种煤成浆的定黏（1 000 mPa·s）浓度，分别比相应原煤下降了4.6%，6.6%和4.4%。进一步研究表明，经酸－碱脱灰处理，上述3种煤对所用4种分散剂的吸附量都明显增加，煤粒的Zeta电位也明显增加。酸－碱脱灰处理使研究用煤的成浆性变差，主要是由于煤的有机组成和表面性质变化引起的。     

Recovery of rhenium from sulfuric acid solutions with activated coals

Equilibrium and kinetic characteristics of rhenium sorption from sulfuric acid solutions (pH 2) by activated coals produced from coal raw materials (China) were studied. Constants of the Henry equation describing isotherms of rhenium sorption by activated coals were calculated. The effective diffusion coefficients of rhenium in the coals were determined. The dynamic characteristics of rhenium sorption and desorption were determined for the activated coal with the best capacity and kinetic characteristics.     

Analysis of moisture sorption in lyocell-polypropylene composites

The preparation of composites by thermoforming of intermingled fibre slivers is an efficient method to receive high performance and lightweight materials. Cellulosic fibres have benefits like low density and sustainability but the sorption of water due to the high hydrophilicity of the cellulose requires attention. The swelling of the wet fibres changes the fibre-matrix adhesion and as a consequence, the mechanical strength of the composite is influenced negatively. In this study, the thermoplastic polypropylene was combined with lyocell fibres as reinforcement. Moisture sorption isotherms of cellulose/polypropylene composites were recorded as function of relative humidity. Additionally, the specific surface area was analysed by the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller model. It has been found, that the moisture sorption is influenced by the polypropylene (PP) ratio in the composites. At 60% relative humidity the moisture uptake of the lyocell fibres was reduced from 10.8 to 5.8% for lyocell embedded in a composite with 50% polypropylene. Besides the hysteresis between moisture sorption/desorption cycles was found to be proportional to the increased content of PP. The “Parallel Exponential Kinetics” (PEK) model was used to analyse the kinetics of moisture sorption of these composites in more detail. With the help of the PEK model the sorption/desorption kinetics were described by a fast and slow moisture sorption/desorption process. The capacity for rapid moisture sorption is reduced by the formation of PP layers on the lyocell surface. The share of slow moisture sorption increased with increasing PP content in the composite. The results support understanding of the interaction of water with cellulose containing composites.     

Sorption and desorption of water vapor by grains of native starch of some crops

The sorption-desorption of water vapor by grains of potato, corn, and wheat native starch is studied. It is shown that water vapor is mainly sorbed inside starch grains. A model is proposed for water vapor sorption by starch grains. Constructed sorption isotherm is shown to adequately describe the process in a wide humidity range. The kinetics of the sorption and desorption of water vapor by starch grains is shown to have an abnormal character.     

Sorption of methane and CO2 for enhanced coalbed methane recovery and carbon dioxide sequestration

Sequestration of CO2 in deep and unmineable coal seams is one of the attractive alternatives to reduce its atmospheric concentration. Injection of CO2 in coal seams may help in enhancing the recovery of coalbed methane. An experimental study has been carried out using coal samples from three different coal seams, to evaluate the enhanced gas recovery and sequestration potential of these coals. The coals were first saturated with methane and then by depressurization some of the adsorbed methane was desorbed. After partial desorption, CO2 was injected into the coals and subsequently they were depressurized again. Desorption of methane after the injections was studied, to investigate the ability of CO2 to displace and enhance the recovery of methane from the coals. The coals exhibited varying behavior of adsorption of CO2 and release of methane. For one coal, the release of methane was enhanced by injection of CO2, suggesting preferential adsorption of CO2 and desorption of methane. For the other two coals, CO2 injection did not produce incremental methane initially, as there was initial resistance to methane release. However with continued CO2 injection, most of the remaining methane was produced. The study suggested that preferential sorption behavior of coal and enhanced gas recovery pattern could not be generalized for all coals.     

Comparative analysis of sorption of small molecule hydrocarbons and polar substances in polish hard coals

The subject of the article is the thermodynamic analysis of the sorption of aliphatic hydrocarbons in hard coals from polish mines. The analysis is based on a Multisorption model designed for describing small molecule sorption in different types of carbonaceous materials (e.g. hard coals, lignites or active carbons). Experimental isotherms of hydrocarbons: hexane, heptane, octane and benzene, in hard coals of different rank, together with water and methanol vapor isotherms measured at room temperature (25 °C), are taken as comparative data for simulations. Results of the analyses reveal the complicated behavior of linear molecules in the sorption system. The location of molecules on the sorbent surface brings a spectrum of problems associated with the incomplete filling of pores, the coiling up of chains, the formulation of plates or globules, and the blocking of micropores. All these effects have an influence on the level and character of sorption, often in opposing ways. The sorption of small inorganic molecules is taken into account in the objective of achieving a more precise identification of the structure of coal. Semi-simultaneous computations for all types of sorbates have already been carried out.     

Sorption of methane and CO2 for enhanced coalbed methane recovery and carbon dioxide seauestration

Sequestration of CO2 in deep and unmineable coal seams is one of the attractive alternatives to reduce its atmospheric concentration. Injection of CO2 in coal seams may help in enhancing the recovery of coalbed methane. An experimental study has been carried out using coal samples from three different coal seams, to evaluate the enhanced gas recovery and sequestration potential of these coals. The coals were first saturated with methane and then by depressurization some of the adsorbed methane was desorbed. After partial desorption, CO2 was injected into the coals and subsequently they were depressurized again. Desorption of methane after the injections was studied, to investigate the ability of CO2 to displace and enhance the recovery of methane from the coals. The coals exhibited varying behavior of adsorption of CO2 and release of methane. For one coal, the release of methane was enhanced by injection of CO2, suggesting preferential adsorption of CO2 and desorption of methane. For the other two coals, CO2 injection did not produce incremental methane initially, as there was initial resistance to methane release. However with continued CO2 injection, most of the remaining methane was produced. The study suggested that preferential sorption behavior of coal and enhanced gas recovery pattern could not be generalized for all coals.     

Development of free radicals in sulfonated polystyrene ion-exchange resins upon drying

On exhaustive drying of sulfonated polystyrene-based ion-exchange resins, it is shown that free-radical centers develop. These have been examined by electron-spin resonance spectroscopy. The formation of the free radicals is largely reversible with respect to desorption and sorption of water which was measured by means of a quartz spiral microbalance. The spin-concentration isotherm as a function of sorbed water concentration is obtained. The presence of free radicals, dependent on water content in the resins, interferes with proton magnetic relaxation studies of hydration of ionized resins by providing a faster electron-spin coupled nuclear magnetic relaxation mechanism.     

Sorption of selenite onto chlorite considering mineral dissolution

In this study we investigated the sorption of selenite (SeO₃ ^2?) onto chlorite as a function of Se(IV) concentration, pH, and ionic strength. The sorption isotherm of Se(IV) onto chlorite was successfully presented by both the Langmuir isotherm and Tempkin equation although the Langmuir isotherm is somewhat better than the Tempkin equation. The sorption of Se(IV) onto chlorite was maintained to be constant at an acidic pH region, while the sorption decreased with an increasing pH at neutral and alkaline pH regions. However, the Se(IV) sorption onto chlorite was independent of the ionic strength of NaClO₄ solution. The amount of Se(IV) sorbed onto chlorite was significantly low compared to those of iron oxides such as apatite, goethite, hematite, and magnetite because of the lower content of Fe. We also investigated the effect of Fe(II) ions dissolved from chlorite on the Se(IV) sorption as a function of contact time. The chemical oxidation states of selenium sorbed onto chlorite surface were identified using X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) at the Pohang synchrotron light source. The amount of Fe(II) dissolved was increased by the contact time of 28 days but decreased after 28–56 days although the amount of dissolved Fe(II) ions was significantly small. This decrease of the dissolved Fe(II) may be due to the formation of Fe-oxyhydroxides such as ferrihydrite. The results of XANES measurements also showed that the Se(IV) sorbed onto chlorite was not reduced into Se(0) or Se(-II) even in the presence of Fe(II) ions in the solution because of the low Fe content of the chlorite although the mechanism was not clearly understood.     

Physicochemical characterization of the retardation of aqueous Cs+ ions by natural kaolinite and clinoptilolite minerals

The aim of this study was to carry out kinetic, thermodynamic, and surface characterization of the sorption of Cs+ ions on natural minerals of kaolinite and clinoptilolite. The results showed that sorption followed pseudo-second-order kinetics. The activation energies were 9.5 and 13.9 kJ/mol for Cs+ sorption on kaolinite and clinoptilolite, respectively. Experiments performed at four different initial concentrations of the ion revealed that the percentage sorption of Cs+ on clinoptilolite ranged from 90 to 95, compared to 28 to 40 for the kaolinite case. At the end of a 1 week period, the percentage of Cs+ desorption from clinoptilolite did not exceed 7%, while it amounted to more than 30% in kaolinite, indicating more stable fixation by clinoptilolite. The sorption data were best described using Freundlich and D-R isotherm models. Sorption showed spontaneous and exothermic behavior on both minerals, with deltaH(0) being -6.3 and -11.4 kJ/mol for Cs+ uptake by kaolinite and clinoptilolite, respectively. Expanding the kaolinite interlayer space from 0.71 to 1.12 nm using DMSO intercalation, did not yield a significant enhancement in the sorption capacity of kaolinite, indicating that the surface and edge sites of the clay are more energetically favored. EDS mapping and elemental analysis of the surface of kaolinite and clinoptilolite revealed more intense signals on the surface of the latter with an even distribution of sorbed Cs+ onto the surfaces of both minerals.     

Surface arsenic speciation of a drinking-water treatment residual using X-ray absorption spectroscopy

Drinking-water treatment residuals (WTRs) present a low-cost geosorbent for As-contaminated waters and soils. Previous work has demonstrated the high affinity of WTRs for As, but data pertaining to the stability of sorbed As is missing. Sorption/desorption and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), both XANES (X-ray absorption near edge structure) and EXAFS (extended X-ray absorption fine structure) studies, were combined to determine the stability of As sorbed by an Fe-based WTR. Arsenic(V) and As(III) sorption kinetics were biphasic in nature, sorbing >90% of the initial added As (15,000 mg kg(-1)) after 48 h of reaction. Subsequent desorption experiments with a high P load (7500 mg kg(-1)) showed negligible As desorption for both As species, approximately <3.5% of sorbed As; the small amount of desorbed As was attributed to the abundance of sorption sites. XANES data showed that sorption kinetics for either As(III) or As(V) initially added to solution had no effect on the sorbed As oxidation state. EXAFS spectroscopy suggested that As added either as As(III) or as As(V) formed inner-sphere mononuclear, bidentate complexes, suggesting the stability of the sorbed As, which was further corroborated by the minimum As desorption from the Fe-WTR.     

Misleading information on homogeneity and heterogeneity obtained from sorption isotherms

In this paper, the applications and the differences among the widely applied sorption isotherms (Langmuir isotherm for adsorption, competitive adsorption, ion exchange, Freundlich isotherm) are shown. The misleading information obtained by the formal applications of the isotherms is demonstrated using a simple mathematical model of homovalent ion exchange on homogeneous surface. This model calculation clearly reveals that when studying surface accumulation processes, the mechanism of the sorption process has to be determined. The correct thermodynamic interpretation of the data of sorption experiments is possible only if the isotherm is adapted to the sorption mechanism. It is emphasized that the regression values of the applied models themselves provide correct information neither on the surface heterogeneity nor the interactions among the sorbed species. The curved shape of an inadequate applied isotherm gives no information about the heterogeneity. In order to study the energy distribution of surface sites, the thermodynamic equations, including isotherms, has to be selected on the basis of sorption mechanism. All variable quantities involved in the given model (concentrations of the competing substances in all phases) have to be measured experimentally and included into the isotherm.     

Sorption of Water Vapour on Exinite Concentrates

Maceral concentrates of the exinite group, isolated from the hard coals from the Janina and Brzeszcze Mines were studied. Sorption studies in the coal-water vapour system and the concentrates maceral-water vapour system were carried out using the volumetric method (under isothermal-isobaric conditions) at 298 K, at the following relative sorbate pressures: 0.19; 0.34; 0.52; 0.70 and 0.88.The presented sorption isotherms show that the exinites isolated from coals have higher water vapour sorption capacities than the coals from which they were isolated. Their sorption capacity is closely related to the accessibility of their porous structure during the interfacial-volumetric process of water vapour interaction in the coal substance.     

Sorption of water in hydrophilic polymers—I Sorption isotherms in copolymers of hydroxyethyl methacrylate and hydroxyethoxyethyl methacrylate

Sorption isotherms of water vapour were determined for crosslinked poly-2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (PHEMA), poly-2-(2′-hydroxyethoxy)ethyl methacrylate (PHEOEMA) and statistical copolymers at 35°. In the case of PHEMA the amount sorbed does not depend on the porosity of structure: sorption is influenced by the crosslinking parameters only at higher activities. The isotherm of PHEMA is S-shaped, while that of PHEOEMA, is convex; at lower activities, the sorption in mol/mol is higher in PHEMA than in PHEOEMA, although the former has a lower content of polar groups per monomer unit. It seems that the differences between isotherms could be explained by the fact (in principle identical with Kargin's hypothesis) that PHEMA is in the glassy state at the temperature of measurement, while the state of PHEOEMA is viscoelastic. The sorption data were used to calculate the parameters of the B.E.T. equation modified by Anderson; the concentrations of the sorption sites thus determined do not oppose the view that strongly bound water molecules are sorbed between two hydroxyl groups. The dependence of the Flory-Huggins interaction parameter χ on the volume fraction of the polymer exhibits a marked change of slope at a concentration roughly corresponding to the water content needed to transform the polymer from the glassy into the viscoelastic state at 35°. The Zimm clustering function indicates, at a higher water content, a considerable tende`ncy towards clustering; however, for samples in the glassy state and at low amounts sorbed, this function assumes negative values, suggesting mutual isolation of the molecules of the sorbate.     

Kinetic study on the sorption of dissolved natural organic matter onto different aquifer materials: the effects of hydrophobicity and functional groups

The subsurface sorption of Suwannee River fulvic acid (SRFA) and humic acid (SRHA) onto a synthetic aquifer material (iron-oxide-coated quartz) and two natural aquifer materials (Ringold sediment and Bemidji soils) was studied in both batch and column experiments. The hypothesis that hydrophobic effects followed by ligand exchange are the dominant mechanism contributing to the chemical sorption happening between dissolved natural organic matter (NOM) and the mineral surfaces is supported by observations of several phenomena: nonlinear isotherms, faster sorption rates versus slower desorption rates, phosphate competition, a solution pH increase during NOM sorption, and functional groups and aromaticity-related sorption. In addition, high-pressure size exclusion chromatography (HPSEC) and carboxylic acidity showed that lower molecular weight NOM components of SRHA are preferentially sorbed to iron oxide, a result in contrast to that for SRFA. Phosphate increased the desorption of sorbed NOM as well as soil organic matter. All of these trends support ligand exchange as the dominant reaction between NOM and the iron oxide surfaces; however, if the soil surface has been occupied by soil organic matter, then the sorption of NOM is more due to hydrophobic effect.     

SORPTION OF OXYANIONS BY SURFACTANT-MODIFIED ZEOLITE

Zeolite has high internal and external surface areas and high internal and external cation exchange capacities suitable for surface modification by cationic surfactants. When the initial surfactant concentration is less than the critical micelle concentration, the sorted surfactant molecules primarily form a monolayer. Limited chromate sorption indicates that patchy bilayer may also form. When the initial surfactant concentration is greater than the critical micelle concentration and enough surfactant exists in the system, the sorbed surfactant molecules form bilayers, producing maximum chromate sorption. On a meq/kg basis, planar nitrate sorbs more on surfactant-modified zeolite surfaces than tetrahedral chromate. In the presence of sulfate or nitrate, chromate sorption is hindered due to competition for sorption sites. Quantitative sorption of nitrate and chromate and desorption of bromide indicate that the sorption of oxyanions is primarily due to surface anion exchange.     

Complex surface analytical investigations on hydrogen absorption and desorption processes of a TiMn<Subscript>2</Subscript>-based alloy

Metal hydrides are one of the most promising technologies in the field of hydrogen storage due to their high volumetric storage density. Important reaction steps take place at the very surface of the solid during hydrogen absorption. Since these reaction steps are drastically influenced by the properties and potential contamination of the solid, it is very important to understand the characteristics of the surface, and a variety of analytical methods are required to achieve this. In this work, a TiMn₂-type metal hydride alloy is investigated by means of high-pressure activation measurements, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), secondary neutral mass spectrometry (SNMS) and thermal desorption mass spectrometry (TDMS). In particular, TDMS is an analytical tool that, in contrast to SIMS or SNMS, allows the hydrogen content in a metal to be quantified. Furthermore, it allows the activation energy for desorption to be determined from TDMS profiles; the method used to achieve this is presented here in detail. In the results section, it is shown that the oxide layer formed during manufacture and long-term storage prevents any hydrogen from being absorbed, and so an activation process is required. XPS measurements show the oxide states of the main alloy elements, and a layer 18 nm thick is determined via SNMS. Furthermore, defined oxide layers are produced and characterized in UHV using XPS. The influence of these thin oxide layers on the hydrogen sorption process is examined using TDMS. Finally, the activation energy of desorption is determined for the investigated alloy using the method presented here, and values of 46 kJ/mol for hydrogen sorbed in UHV and 103 kJ/mol for hydrogen originating from the manufacturing process are obtained.     

Adsorption-Desorption Hysteresis in Polymers

Many polymeric substrates which swell on adsorption exhibit sorption hysteresis; the phenomenon is most striking for water sorption by natural polymers and proteins. Some interpretations of hysteresis for swelling systems have invoked the concept that there are more active sites available for association with sorbate during desorption than for adsorption to the same relative pressure. Chemical modification of hydrophilic groups, which markedly alters the amount of water sorbed by keratin, or the filling of possible voids in the substrate has little effect on keratin-water vapor sorption hysteresis. Sorption in swelling systems occurs by a coupled diffusion-relaxation mechanism. It is demonstrated that the occurrence of hysteresis is associated with the stress relaxation of the cohesive forces opposing swelling. Changes in the structural conformation may be considered as the variable which differs between the adsorption and desorption states. The segmentai mobility of the macromolecular chains plays a major role in the irreversibility of the sorption isotherm, leading to wide diversity in hysteresis effects in polymers.