Methods, materials, and apparatuses associated with adsorbing hydrocarbon gas mixtures

A method for producing an adsorbent material from a lignocellulose material, the adsorbent material being configured to adsorb hydrocarbon gas mixtures, the method comprising:

• obtaining the lignocellulose material;
• and
• producing the adsorbent material by performing an activation process on the lignocellulose material such that the lignocellulose material develops a surface area per weight and/or volume suitable for adsorbing hydrocarbon gas mixtures, the activation process including quantitatively selecting pore volumes by controlling carbon consumption and intercalation into a carbon lattice of the lignocellulose material.

A method for producing an adsorbent material from a carbonaceous material, the adsorbent material being configured to adsorb hydrocarbon gas mixtures, the method comprising:

• obtaining a carbonaceous material;
• and
• producing the adsorbent material by performing an activation process on the carbonaceous material such that the carbonaceous material develops a surface area per weight and/or volume suitable for adsorbing hydrocarbon gas mixtures.

A method for activating carbon-based material using controlled oxidation to produce an adsorbent material configured to adsorb hydrocarbon gas mixtures, the method comprising:

• exposing the carbon-based material to a sequence of high-temperature loading cycles;
• and
• degassing oxygen during the loading cycles to avoid ignition and burning of the carbon-based material.

A method for enhancing surfaces of an adsorbent material configured to adsorb hydrocarbon gas mixtures, the method comprising:

• introducing one or more non-carbon elements to surfaces of the adsorbent material to increase a binding energy between methane molecules and the surfaces of the adsorbent material.

A method for forming hydrates in pores of an adsorbent material configured to adsorb hydrocarbon gas mixtures, the method comprising:

• introducing methane and water to pores of the adsorbent material to effectuate formation of methane hydrate within the pores.