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Updated: Jan 13, 2026

Heterogeneous Removal of Water-Soluble Ruthenium Olefin Metathesis Catalyst from Aqueous Media Via Host-Guest Interaction
Published on: August 23, 2018
Oxygen-Rich Zn-Vitamin C Framework Enabling Specific Host-Guest Recognition for Selective Hydrocarbon Separation and
Can Xia1, Wei Xia1, Fang Zheng2
1Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering of ministry of Education, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, P. R. China.
Abstract:
Tailored host-guest interactions are essential for developing multifunctional adsorbents, yet integrating distinct adsorption roles into a single robust framework remains rare. Herein, we represent a green, biocompatible Zn-based metal-organic framework (ZnVc) constructed from edible-grade vitamin C ligands. The resulting oxygen-decorated pores deliver strong, selective guest binding through multiple hydrogen-bonding interactions. ZnVc exhibits inverse hydrocarbon selectivity with high affinity for C2H2 and C2H6 over C2H4, enabling one-step C2H4 purification from ternary C2 mixtures under ambient conditions. Theoretical modeling and in situ spectroscopy reveal that synergistic hydrogen-bonding and electrostatic interactions govern this selectivity. Beyond hydrocarbon separation, the oxygen-rich sites impart dual functionality in real fruit storage: efficient C2H4 scavenging couple with humidity regulation, markedly prolongs postharvest freshness. This work exemplifies how rational coordination chemistry and sustainable ligand choice can unite industrial and agricultural functions within a single adsorbent platform.
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