Microporous metal–organic framework with dual functionalities for highly efficient removal of acetylene from ethylene/acetylene mixtures

Abstract

The removal of acetylene from ethylene/acetylene mixtures containing 1% acetylene is a technologically very important, but highly challenging task. Current removal approaches include the partial hydrogenation over a noble metal catalyst and the solvent extraction of cracked olefins, both of which are cost and energy consumptive. Here we report a microporous metal–organic framework in which the suitable pore/cage spaces preferentially take up much more acetylene than ethylene while the functional amine groups on the pore/cage surfaces further enforce their interactions with acetylene molecules, leading to its superior performance for this separation. The single X-ray diffraction studies, temperature dependent gas sorption isotherms, simulated and experimental column breakthrough curves and molecular simulation studies collaboratively support the claim, underlying the potential of this material for the industrial usage of the removal of acetylene from ethylene/acetylene mixtures containing 1% acetylene at room temperature through the cost- and energy-efficient adsorption separation process.

Adsorptive Separation of Acetylene from Ethylene in Isostructural Gallate‐Based Metal–Organic Frameworks

“…Owing to the close similarity in molecular shape and size between acetylene and ethylene, their separation has been recognized as a challenging process . Industrially, commercial methods for C 2 H 2 removal including partial hydrogenation and solvent absorption require noble metal catalysts or a large amount of volatile organic solvents, which are relatively costly and energy‐intensive . Consequently, there is an urgent demand to explore alternative technologies that can efficiently purify a C 2 H 4 stream under mild conditions.…”

Imparting amphiphobicity on single-crystalline porous materials

“…As an emerging class of porous materials with high single crystallinity, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs)161718, which feature amenability to design, high surface areas, tunable pore sizes and tailorable functionality, have recently been extensively investigated for applications in gas storage1920, separation2122, carbon capture2324, catalysis25262728, sensing2930 and so on (refs 31, 32, 33, 34). However, an issue for their wide applications in practice includes the performance under a variety of environments (for example, stability in humid conditions, interferences by organic vapours in the atmosphere35363738), which necessitate the sophisticated control of the surface wettability of MOFs.…”

Highest and Fastest Removal Rate of PbII Ions through Rational Functionalized Decoration of a Metal–Organic Framework Cavity

“…The activation process for adsorption studies was successfully performed by solvente xchange with acetonitrile for 5days. [15] Adsorption studies Uptake capacity and adsorption kinetics are two of the most important key factorsf or performance assessment of ap ractical adsorbent.M oreover,t he pH value is considered as one of the most important factorsi nP b II adsorption from aqueous solutions. The permanent porosity of TMU-56 was evaluated by N 2 gas adsorption studies at 77 Ka nd 1bar.T he Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surfacea rea based on nitrogen adsorption isotherms was calculated to be 650 m 2 g À1 .Avery sharp uptake occurred at P/P 0 < 0.05, consistent with at ype Ii sotherm characteristic of am icroporous structure ( Figure S4 in the Supporting Information).…”