Methane and carbon dioxide sorption/desorption on bituminous coal-Experiments on cubicoid sample cut from the primal coal lump

► In the experimental conditions CH4 induced strains might be irreversible. ► The relation induced stains vs. sorption/desorption of CH4 is roughly linear. ► The relation volumetric stains vs. sorption of CO2/CH4 mixture is non-linear. Sorption/desorption processes cause relaxation changes in the coal structure. ► CH4 was displaced from the sorbed phase by preferentially sorbed CO2.