Adsorptive separation on metal-organic frameworks in the liquid phase

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Chemical Engineering
• Separation Science

Background:

• Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) have traditionally been studied for gas adsorption and purification.
• Emerging research demonstrates MOFs' significant potential in liquid mixture separation and purification.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive overview of the existing literature on MOF-based liquid separations.
• To emphasize the underlying separation mechanisms and structure-selectivity relationships in MOF applications.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of MOF applications in liquid separations.
• Analysis of separation mechanisms.
• Correlation of MOF structure with separation performance.

Main Results:

• MOFs show versatility in separating petrochemicals from nonpolar solvents.
• Recent advancements focus on separating complex chiral compounds and biobased molecules from aqueous media.
• Structure-selectivity is a key factor governing MOF separation efficiency.

Conclusions:

• MOFs are a promising class of materials for diverse liquid separation challenges.
• Understanding structure-property relationships is crucial for designing effective MOF-based separation systems.
• The scope of MOF applications is expanding from gas to complex liquid mixtures.