Activated carbon monolith of high thermal conductivity for adsorption processes improvement

Due to the low thermal conductivity of conventional beds of granular adsorbents (0.15-0.5 W m−1 K−1), performances of gas separation as well as gas storage processes are usually strongly inhibited by the induced adsorptive thermal effects. A monolithic composite of intensified overall thermal conductivity (10 W m−1 K−1), made of activated carbon (AC) in situ elaborated within a consolidated expanded natural graphite (CENG) matrix has been experimentally tested under both conditions of non-isothermal and non-adiabatic CO2 adsorption. Heat transfer intensification and process performances improvements for the conventional saturation step is described in terms of induced local temperature increases, adsorbate breakthrough and sorption capacity. Experimental conductive packing achievements are compared to those of a conventional packed bed of commercial TA70 granular activated carbon.