Abstract: The invention is concerned with a high-density adsorbent comprising a compacted mass of high surface area carbon particles bound together with a binder and defining a network of substantially unobstructed micropores, the mass of carbon particles having been compacted under a pressure sufficient to cause a reduction of about 50 to about 200% in bulk volume of the mass and a corresponding increase of about 50 to about 200% in density, thereby providing a gas storage capacity increase of about 20 to about 100% over that of the high surface area carbon particles in loose or uncompacted form. The high-density adsorbent according to the invention is particularly useful in adsorption storage systems for low-pressure storage of compressed natural gas.