Breakthrough adsorption studies of mixed gases on mango (Mangifera indicaL.) seed shell derived activated carbon extrudes

Herein, we report the use of mango seed shells as carbon precursor for producing high surface area (2500 m2/g) activated carbon with total pore volume of 2.2 cm3/g by chemical (H3PO4) activation method. The mango seed shell derived activated carbon (MSS-AC) was used as adsorbent for the adsorption of CO2, CH4 and N2. The MSS-AC powder was converted into shaped body (extrudes) using carboxy methyl cellulose sodium salt (viscosity 1% w/v in water at 25 °C, 1100–1900 cPS) and soluble starch (MW: 342.30) as binder (10 wt% of each). The single column breakthrough adsorption of CO2 and CH4 from binary gas mixtures (CO2–N2, CH4–N2, CO2–CH4) and ternary gas mixture (CO2–CH4–N2) were investigated on MSS-AC extrudes. The highest equilibrium adsorption capacity of CO2 on MSS-AC powder obtained was 21.3 wt% and MSS-AC extrudes was 14.3 wt% at 273 K and 1 bar pressure. We have also compared the results of surface area and CO2 adsorption capacity of carbon based materials derived from various sources reported in the literature with MSS-AC.