title: Carbon fibre composite for ventilation air methane (VAM) capture.
abstract: Coal mine methane (CMM) is not only a hazardous greenhouse gas but is also a wasted energy resource, if not utilised. This paper evaluates a novel adsorbent material developed for capturing methane from ventilation air methane (VAM) gas in underground coal mines. The adsorbent material is a honeycomb monolithic carbon fibre composite (HMCFC) consisting of multiple parallel flow-through channels and the material exhibits unique features including low pressure drop, good mechanical properties, ability to handle dust-containing gas streams, good thermal and electrical conductivity and selective adsorption of gases. During this study, a series of HMCFC adsorbents (using different types of carbon fibres) were successfully fabricated. Experimental data demonstrated the proof-of-concept of using the HMCFC adsorbent to capture methane from VAM gas. The adsorption capacity of the HMCFC adsorbent was twice that of commercial activated carbon. Methane concentration of 0.56% in the inlet VAM gas stream is reduced to about 0.011% after it passes through the novel carbon fibre composite adsorbent material at ambient temperature and atmospheric pressure. This amounts to a maximum capture efficiency of 98%. These encouraging laboratory scale studies have prompted further large scale trials and economic assessment.
authors.affiliation: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Kenmore, Queensland 4069, Australia.
authors.forename: Ramesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Thiruvenkatachari
authors.forename: Shi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Xin Xiang
authors.initials: XX
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D000077482:Carbon Fiber; D003031:Coal; D008697:Methane / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008906:Mining; D014691:Ventilation
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D000077482:Carbon Fiber; D003031:Coal; D002244:Carbon; D008697:Methane