Metal-Organic Framework with Space-Partition Pores by Fluorinated Anions for Benchmark C₂H₂/CO₂ Separation

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Chemical Engineering
• Separation Science

Background:

• Efficient separation of acetylene (C2H2) from CO2 and CH4 is vital for producing high-purity C2H2 (>99%) for commodity chemicals.
• Existing separation methods face challenges in achieving both high capacity and selectivity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce ZNU-12, a metal-organic framework designed for highly efficient separation of C2H2 from C2H2/CO2 and C2H2/CO2/CH4 mixtures.
• To demonstrate the material's capability for high C2H2 purity and productivity.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis and characterization of the ZNU-12 metal-organic framework.
• Adsorption-desorption breakthrough experiments to evaluate separation performance.
• Theoretical calculations to elucidate the mechanism of interaction.

Main Results:

• ZNU-12 exhibits space-partitioned pores enabling simultaneous high C2H2 capacity (176.5 cm3/g) and selectivity.
• Achieved outstanding C2H2 selectivity over CO2 (13.4) and CH4 (233.5).
• Demonstrated record-high C2H2 productivity (>80 L/kg) with 99.5% purity from various gas mixtures.

Conclusions:

• ZNU-12 is a promising material for efficient acetylene separation.
• The unique pore structure and "2 + 2" collaborative hydrogen bonds contribute to its superior performance.
• This framework offers a viable solution for industrial acetylene purification.