Examination of the Factors Inhibiting CO(2) Adsorption on Coal: A Case Study from Shallow-Depth Low-Rank Coal Seams

[Image: see text] Understanding the inhibitory factors affecting the adsorption of CO(2) on low-rank coal from shallow-depth coal seams is essential to identify potential coal seams for CO(2) sequestration. The CO(2) adsorption capacity of shallow-depth coals was measured at a low pressure on raw and dry coals. The samples were also prepared for organic analyses, scanning electron microscopy analyses, and low-temperature nitrogen adsorption analyses to evaluate the CO(2) adsorption and identify the inhibitory factors. An investigation was conducted to determine how CO(2) adsorption occurs on coal by fitting experimental data to adsorption isotherm models, followed by analyzing the results based on the statistical analysis. In addition, this study used Henry's law, surface potential, and Gibbs free energy to identify the adsorption inhibitor between CO(2) and coal. The CO(2) adsorption experiment was conducted on raw coal with a moisture content of 15.18–20.11% and dry coal with no moisture. The experimental data showed that the CO(2) adsorption capacity in dry coal was 1.6–1.8 times greater than that in raw coal. A fitting graph between the adsorption data and the isotherm model indicated that CO(2) adsorption on coal occurred on monolayers and multilayers under raw and dry conditions. Statistical evaluation of the adsorption isotherm models showed that the Langmuir and Freundlich models aligned more closely to the experimental data. According to this result, low-pressure adsorption of CO(2) on coal occurred in monolayers and multilayers under raw and dry conditions. Coal containing a high huminite content had a higher potential for CO(2) adsorption, and the drying increased the positive relationship. On the other hand, coal containing high inertinite content inhibited CO(2) adsorption onto the coal, but the drying process did not adversely affect CO(2) adsorption. Furthermore, coal with high moisture and inertinite content inhibited the affinity, accommodation, and spontaneous CO(2) adsorption onto the coal. CO(2) adsorption could lead to swelling, but moisture loss opened more sites and micropores, resulting in the swelling effect not closing all micropores in dry coal. Based on these results, coal seams with low moisture and inertinite content are the most promising for CO(2) adsorption. Altogether, this study provides an understanding of the percentage of inhibitor factors that affects CO(2) adsorption on low-rank coal from shallow depths, which may lead to different CO(2) adsorption capacities.