Graphitization of olive mill waste biomass by pyrolysis for H2, CH4 and CO2 gas detection

A graphitized adsorbent of CO2, CH4 and H2 gases is prepared from pre-treated olive mill waste using pyrolysis method under N2 atmosphere. This organic adsorbent is found to have a large surface area of 1571 m2/g and high pore volume of 1.04 cm3/g. The isotherms analysis by using Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) method revealed that the aforementioned adsorbent exhibits mesopore structure coexisting with a microporous framework. Thanks to these textural properties, gases uptakes of this adsorbent at 298 K and 20 bars reach 5.62, 12.72 and 0.08 mmol/g for CH4, CO2 and H2, respectively, which are among the highest levels compared to other solids (zeolites, metal organic framework). The adsorption–desorption cycles performed for CH4, CO2 and H2 gases were found to be reversible indicating a possible and easily regeneration of the adsorbent. Considering all these advantages about low costs graphitization, great uptake of various gases, good physicochemical stability and reversibility, this adsorbent can be a promising candidate for gases storage.