Hydrogen storage on pyrolyzed chicken feather fibers

Pyrolyzed chicken feather fibers (PCFF) that were prepared by two-step process (215 °C/15 h + 400–450 °C/1 h) demonstrated a significant H2 adsorption uptake due to their microporous nature. Considering their large availability, cost and H2 storage capability, PCFF can be a significant, environmentally friendly and bio-renewable candidate to address the H2 storage problem. A wide range of microporosities was obtained when the second step pyrolysis temperature was maintained between 400 and 450 °C for 0.5–2 h. The optimal H2 storage was obtained using 1 h pyrolysis in this temperature range. The maximum excess H2 storage capacity was 1.5 wt% at 77 K and at pressures below 2 MPa. The notable H2 adsorption of PCFF below 1 MPa can be justified by the abundance of microporosity, and the nanopores available for H2 penetration. The estimated adsorption energy for PCFFs, 5–6 kJ/mol was in the range of typical physisorption materials indicating the easy recovery of H2.