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Updated: Aug 5, 2026
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Electrophoretic Crystallization of Ultrathin High-performance Metal-organic Framework Membranes
Published on: August 16, 2018
Propane-selective porous materials for inverse propane/propylene separation
Yuntao Mu1,2,3, Zhe Yang2, Xinmei Liu1
1College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, China University of Petroleum, Qingdao 266580, P. R. China. lxmei@upc.edu.cn.
Chemical Communications (Cambridge, England)
|July 30, 2026
Summary
New porous materials, including metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), offer a non-cryogenic solution for propane/propylene splitting. These materials selectively adsorb propane, enabling efficient production of high-purity propylene with reduced energy costs.
Area of Science:
- Petrochemical Engineering
- Materials Science
- Separation Science
Background:
- Propane/propylene splitting is energy-intensive using conventional cryogenic distillation due to similar physicochemical properties.
- Adsorption-based separations using porous solids present a non-cryogenic alternative.
- Propane-selective (inverse-selective) adsorbents retain propane, allowing direct high-purity propylene raffinate production.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advances (2019-2026) in propane-selective porous materials for inverse propane/propylene separation.
- To focus on metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) while discussing complementary materials like porous carbons, HOFs, and COFs.
- To highlight mechanisms enabling inverted olefin preference and enhanced propane capture.
Main Methods:
- Summarizing recent literature on porous materials for propane/propylene separation.
- Focusing on metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), porous carbons, hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks (HOFs), and covalent organic frameworks (COFs).
- Analyzing factors like pore-surface polarity, ultramicropore confinement, weak interactions, and framework dynamics.
Main Results:
- Recent advances in MOFs, porous carbons, HOFs, and COFs demonstrate propane selectivity.
- Key factors influencing selectivity include pore-surface properties, confinement effects, and dynamic framework behavior.
- Materials show potential for practical operating windows, enhancing propane capture.
Conclusions:
- Propane-selective porous materials offer a promising non-cryogenic route for propane/propylene separation.
- Further research and development are needed for scalable shaping and process integration.
- These materials can simplify process flowsheets and reduce energy consumption in propylene production.
