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Selective Ethane/Ethylene Separation in a Robust Microporous Hydrogen-Bonded Organic Framework.
Xu Zhang1,2, Libo Li3,4, Jia-Xin Wang1
1State Key Laboratory of Silicon Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering , Zhejiang University , Hangzhou 310027 , China.
Journal of the American Chemical Society
|December 17, 2019
Summary
A novel hydrogen-bonded organic framework (HOF), HOF-76a, efficiently separates ethane from ethylene. This adsorbent offers a promising solution for producing high-purity ethylene for industrial applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Chemical Engineering
- Adsorption Science
Background:
- Ethane (C2H6) and ethylene (C2H4) separation is crucial for polymer-grade ethylene production.
- Existing methods for C2H6/C2H4 separation using hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks (HOFs) are limited due to weak hydrogen bonding interactions.
- Developing robust adsorbents for selective C2H6/C2H4 separation remains a significant challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report a novel, ultrarobust hydrogen-bonded organic framework (HOF-76a) for selective ethane/ethylene separation.
- To investigate the adsorption mechanisms governing the preferential binding of C2H6 over C2H4 in HOF-76a.
- To demonstrate the practical application of HOF-76a in producing polymer-grade ethylene.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis and characterization of the novel HOF adsorbent (HOF-76a).
- Gas adsorption isotherm measurements at various pressures and temperatures.
- Theoretical calculations (e.g., density functional theory) to understand adsorption interactions.
- Ideal Adsorbed Solution Theory (IAST) calculations for mixture adsorption prediction.
- Simulated and experimental breakthrough curve analyses.
Main Results:
- HOF-76a exhibits a high Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area (>1100 m²/g).
- HOF-76a demonstrates preferential adsorption of C2H6 over C2H4, leading to highly selective separation.
- Theoretical studies reveal that the nonpolar surface and triangular pore structure of HOF-76a favor C2H6 adsorption via stronger van der Waals interactions.
- Experimental breakthrough tests successfully produced polymer-grade ethylene from a 50/50 C2H6/C2H4 mixture in a single adsorption cycle.
- High productivity of 7.2 L/kg (at 1.01 bar) and 18.8 L/kg (at 5.0 bar) was achieved.
Conclusions:
- HOF-76a represents a benchmark adsorbent for efficient and selective C2H6/C2H4 separation.
- The unique pore structure and surface chemistry of HOF-76a are key to its superior separation performance.
- This HOF adsorbent offers a viable pathway for the industrial production of polymer-grade ethylene.
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