Pore Aperture Control Toward Size-Exclusion-Based Hydrocarbon Separations.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Chemical Engineering
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) offer tunable structures for chemical separations.
• Developing stable MOFs, especially zinc-based ones, remains a challenge for practical applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize a thermally stable zinc-based MOF using a novel 3D linker.
• To investigate the MOF's capability for separating challenging hexane isomers.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of a zinc-based MOF incorporating bicyclo[2.2.2]octane-1,4-dicarboxylic acid (3D linker).
• Characterization of the MOF's thermal stability and pore structure.
• Liquid-phase batch experiments for separating hexane isomer mixtures.

Main Results:

• The synthesized MOF demonstrated high thermal stability.
• The 3D linker created precise pore apertures enabling sub-Ångstrom separation.
• Successful separation of linear, monobranched, and dibranched hexane isomers was achieved.

Conclusions:

• Stable zinc-based MOFs can be constructed using 3D linkers.
• This MOF is effective for separating hexane isomers based on kinetic diameters.
• The approach offers a promising solution for challenging non-thermal chemical separations.