Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 26, 2025
07:45
Electrophoretic Crystallization of Ultrathin High-performance Metal-organic Framework Membranes
Published on: August 16, 2018
10.1K
Homochiral Metal-Organic Framework Based Mixed Matrix Membrane for Chiral Resolution
1Department of Chemical and Molecular Engineering (BK-21 Four), Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, Korea.
Membranes
|April 21, 2022
Summary
This study introduces a novel enantioselective mixed-matrix membrane for efficient chiral separation. The L-His-ZIF-8/Torlon® membrane demonstrates effective separation of enantiomers in organic solvent nanofiltration.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Chemical Engineering
- Separation Science
Background:
- Efficient enantiomer separation is crucial for pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and food industries.
- Conventional methods are energy-intensive and require specific conditions.
- Existing enantioselective polymer membranes struggle to achieve high enantiomeric excess.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a highly enantioselective mixed-matrix membrane (MMM) for efficient chiral resolution.
- To overcome limitations of conventional separation techniques and polymer membranes.
- To demonstrate the efficacy of a novel homochiral filler within a polymer matrix.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of a homochiral filler, L-His-ZIF-8, via ligand substitution.
- Fabrication of a mixed-matrix membrane by incorporating L-His-ZIF-8 into polyamide(imide) (Torlon®).
- Testing the enantioselective separation of R-1-phenylethanol from S-1-phenylethanol using organic solvent nanofiltration (OSN).
Main Results:
- Successful fabrication of an L-His-ZIF-8/Torlon® mixed-matrix membrane.
- Demonstrated enantioselective separation of R-1-phenylethanol over S-1-phenylethanol.
- Achieved effective chiral resolution using the developed membrane in OSN mode.
Conclusions:
- The developed L-His-ZIF-8/Torlon® MMM offers a promising alternative for enantioselective separations.
- Membrane-based processes show potential for energy-efficient chiral resolution.
- This approach advances the field of enantioselective membrane technology.
Related Concept Videos
02:25Molecules with Multiple Chiral Centers
12.8K
Molecules that possess multiple chiral centers can afford a large number of stereoisomers. For instance, while some molecules like 2-butanol have one chiral center, defined as a tetrahedral carbon atom with four different substituents attached, several molecules like butane-2,3-diol have multiple chiral centers. A simple formula to predict the number of stereoisomers possible for a molecule with n chiral centers is 2n. However, there can be a lower number where some of the stereoisomers are...
12.8K
02:30Racemic Mixtures and the Resolution of Enantiomers
18.9K
A racemic mixture, or racemate, is an equimolar mixture of enantiomers of a molecule that can be separated using their unique interaction with chiral molecules or media. Racemic mixtures are denoted by the (±)- prefix. This ‘optical rotation descriptor’ applies to the whole solution of a racemic mixture rather than a specific stereoisomer. Enantiomers typically have the same physical and chemical properties. Hence, they are not easily separable. However, enantiomers can exhibit...
18.9K
02:25Chirality
26.0K
Chirality is a term that describes the lack of mirror symmetry in an object. In other words, chiral objects cannot be superposed on their mirror images. For example, our feet are chiral, as the mirror image of the left foot, the right foot, cannot be superposed on the left foot.
Chiral objects exhibit a sense of handedness when they interact with another chiral object. For example, our left foot can only fit in the left shoe and not in the right shoe. Achiral objects — objects that have...
Chiral objects exhibit a sense of handedness when they interact with another chiral object. For example, our left foot can only fit in the left shoe and not in the right shoe. Achiral objects — objects that have...
26.0K
02:05Prochirality
4.0K
The concept of prochirality leads to the nomenclature of the individual faces of a molecule and plays a crucial role in the enantioselective reaction. It is a concept where two or more achiral molecules react to produce chiral products. A typical process is the reaction of an achiral ketone to generate a chiral alcohol. Here, the achiral reactant reacts with an achiral reducing agent, sodium borohydride, to generate an equimolar mixture of the chiral enantiomers of the product. For example, an...
4.0K
01:17Ion Exchange
678
Ion exchange chromatography separates charged molecules from a solution by reversibly exchanging them with mobile, or 'active', ions associated with the oppositely charged stationary phase. This method can be used to separate ions, soften and deionize water, and purify solutions. The polymers comprising the ion-exchange column are high-molecular-weight and chemically stable polymers, crosslinked to be porous and essentially insoluble. They are also functionalized with either acidic or...
678
02:30Chirality at Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Sulfur
6.1K
Chirality is most prevalent in carbon-based tetrahedral compounds, but this important facet of molecular symmetry extends to sp3-hybridized nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur centers, including trivalent molecules with lone pairs. Here, the lone pair behaves as a functional group in addition to the other three substituents to form an analogous tetrahedral center that can be chiral.
A consequence of chirality is the need for enantiomeric resolution. While this is theoretically possible for all...
A consequence of chirality is the need for enantiomeric resolution. While this is theoretically possible for all...
6.1K