Realization of Ethylene Production from Its Quaternary Mixture through Metal-Organic Framework Materials

Ethylene production from oxidative coupling of methane is a sustainable and economically attractive alternative to that through traditional hydrocarbon cracking technology. However, efficient ethylene separation from the complex reaction mixture is a daunting challenge that hinders the practical adoption of this technology. Herein, we report the efficient adsorptive separation of the CH₄/CO₂/C₂H₄/C₂H₆ mixture using three representative metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) (UTSA-74, MOF-74, and HKUST-1) with diverse open metal sites. The efficient separation relies on tuning the selectivity through the convergence of characteristics including Lewis acidity of open metal sites, pore space, and cooperative binding behavior. The separation performance of these materials has been evaluated through single-component gas adsorption and dynamic breakthrough experiments. HKUST-1 provides the highest separation potential (4.1 mmol/g) thanks to its simultaneously high ideal adsorbed solution theory (IAST) selectivity and ethylene adsorption capacity, representing a benchmark material for such a challenging quaternary separation.