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Benchmark C2H4/C3H6 Separation in MOF-COF Bilayer Membranes via Interfacial Coordination Induced Sub-Angstrom Channel
Hanze Ma1,2, Heyang Liu1,2,3,4, Peng Su1,2
1Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Technology of Ministry of Education, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China.
Angewandte Chemie (International Ed. in English)
|November 19, 2025
Summary
Researchers developed a new membrane technology for separating ethylene and propylene, crucial chemicals in industry. This advanced ZIF-8 membrane offers superior separation performance and scalability for sustainable olefin production.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Chemical Engineering
- Separation Technology
Background:
- Olefins like ethylene (C2H4) and propylene (C3H6) are vital industrial chemicals.
- The methanol-to-olefin (MTO) process offers a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based olefin production.
- Efficient purification of olefin mixtures is critical for MTO processes, with membrane technology being a promising approach.
Purpose of the Study:
- To overcome the challenge of precisely separating ethylene (C2H4) and propylene (C3H6) due to their similar molecular sizes.
- To develop a membrane with an improved separation cut-off for C2H4/C3H6 mixtures.
- To demonstrate a scalable strategy for high-performance olefin separation membranes.
Main Methods:
- Utilized an interfacial coordination strategy to regulate sub-angstrom channels in ZIF-8 membranes.
- Employed an ionic covalent organic framework with sulfonate groups as a growth template for ZIF-8.
- Investigated framework contraction using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and molecular dynamics simulations.
- Fabricated large-area flat sheet membranes on polymer substrates.
Main Results:
- Achieved an unprecedented shift in ZIF-8 membrane's separation cut-off from C3H6/C3H8 to C2H4/C3H6.
- Demonstrated a distinct separation between ethylene (C2H4) and propylene (C3H6).
- Obtained a high C2H4 permeance of 405 GPU and an exceptional C2H4/C3H6 selectivity of 45.
- Confirmed lattice contraction of the ZIF-8 framework due to coordination between sulfonate groups and Zn2+ ions.
- Successfully fabricated large-area membranes (>500 cm2), indicating excellent scalability.
Conclusions:
- The interfacial coordination strategy effectively tunes ZIF-8 membrane properties for precise olefin separation.
- The developed membrane exhibits superior performance in separating ethylene from propylene, surpassing existing technologies.
- The strategy is scalable, paving the way for industrial applications in sustainable olefin production.
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