An activated carbon was prepared via template synthesis, which presents a high surface area (2136 m(2)/g), a high gravimetric methane sorption capacity (10 mmol/g at 25 degrees C and 35 bar), but a low bulk density (0.28 g/cm(3)). A simplified hot-pressing method was proposed to fabricate carbon pellets. The pellet possesses the high bulk density (0.98 g/cm), good mechanical strength, and a methane storage capacity of 127 v/v at 35 bar and 25 degrees C. It was found that the hot-pressing can effectively reduce the mesoporosity of the carbon powder and, meanwhile, change the microstructure and morphology of the graphite carbons. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.