Breakthroughs in Activated Carbon for Adsorbed Natural Gas (ANG) Unlock Low-Pressure Methane Storage

CALIFORNIA CITY, Calif. - Aug. 7, 2026 - PRLog -- Commercial Milestone

Ingevity has completed construction of a low-pressure ANG fueling station at its global headquarters in South Carolina. The station supplies natural gas to bi-fuel vehicles equipped with activated carbon monolith storage cylinders, proving commercial readiness. The system slow-fills to 900 psi (approximately 62 bar) for multi-vehicle fleet and residential use .

Scientific Advances

A systematic study of six commercial activated carbons from coal, wood, and coconut precursors found methane adsorption is governed by narrow microporosity and accessible pore volume. Differences in precursor origin significantly affect pore characteristics and surface energy, offering practical insights for tailoring carbons to ANG applications .

Waste-to-Value Innovation

Activated carbon from modified waste PET bottles achieved methane storage of 138.9 g/kg at 28°C and 9 bar—superior to several commercial ANG adsorbents .

Optimized Performance

KOH-upgraded activated carbon with surface areas of 3,052 m²/g achieved the highest CH₄ storage capacity (0.32 g-CH₄/g-AC at 3.5 MPa), over two times higher than low-grade ACs .

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