Prediction of methane adsorption capacity in different rank coal at low temperature by the Polanyi‐based isotherm model

Abstract To investigate the adsorption properties of methane in coal under low temperatures, the isothermal adsorption tests of the three coal samples with different metamorphic degrees were conducted at the ambient temperatures of 253.15−293.15 K, and the low‐temperature nitrogen adsorption (LNA) tests of coal were also performed. Then a relational expression of equilibrium pressure, temperature, and methane adsorption capacity ( T−P model) was deduced to predict the adsorption isotherm at any other temperature based on the Polanyi adsorption theory. The results show that the gas adsorption capacity of coal can be significantly increased at low temperatures (below 273.15 K), and the adsorbed methane in anthracite is obviously more than that in lean coal and coking coal by the virtue of possessing a larger micropore/transition pore volume and specific surface area. The relations between adsorption potential ( ε ) and adsorption volume ( ω ) at different temperatures can be drawn on one single logarithmic curve, and a suitable pseudo‐saturation pressure can be obtained by the improved Amankwah's method. The predicted adsorbed capacities via the T−P model are in line with the measured results at other equilibrium conditions, indicating that the model can contribute to the deep coalbed methane resources estimation and the gas disaster prevention and control in coal mines.