From jujube seeds to gas storage: Carbon-enhanced MCM-41 composites for CO2, CH4 and H2 adsorption

In this study, a series of novel carbon/MCM-41 composites were synthesized using various carbon sources, including jujube seed-derived activated carbon, commercial activated carbon, graphene, and multiwalled carbon nanotubes. The aim was to design advanced adsorbents with enhanced CO2, CH4, and H2 storage capabilities. The combination of microporous activated carbon with mesoporous MCM-41 resulted in hybrid structures offering improved gas diffusion and surface accessibility. Among all prepared composites, the JAC/MCM-41 material demonstrated superior adsorption performance across all three gases. The results highlight the synergistic effect of hierarchical pore structures and the potential of biomass-derived composites for multi-gas storage applications. Notably, the jujube seed-based composite achieved a CO2 adsorption capacity of 29.2 % at 273 K, exceeding that of the other tested materials.