Synthesis of nanoporous copper terephthalate [MIL-53(Cu)] as a novel methane-storage adsorbent

Copper (II) dicarboxylate, MIL-53, metal-organic framework synthesized hydrothermally has been used for the first time as an adsorbent for methane gas adsorption. Methane adsorption capacity of MIL-53(Cu) was increased to about 8.52 mmol·g−1 at 298 K and 35 bar for methane storage. The adsorbent was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer-Emmet-Teller (BET) method, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The adsorption property of CH4, on MIL-53(Cu) was investigated by volumetric measurement. The enhancement of CH4 adsorption capacity of MIL-53(Cu) is attributed to the increase of micropore volume of MIL-53(Cu).