Issue 21, 2023

A highly connected metal–organic framework with a specific nonpolar nanotrap for inverse ethane/ethylene separation

Abstract

Efficient separation of ethylene (C2H4) from ethane (C2H6) via a one-step adsorption process is desirable yet challenging. In this work, we report a C2H6-selective polynuclear Tb-MOF [Tb93-O)23-OH)12(H2O)9(TCPE)3]·[H3O]+·(solvents)x (TCPE = tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl)ethylene acid), NKU-200-Tb, assembled via the reticular chemistry principle. The resulting (4,12)-connected framework critically features a high density of nonpolar aromatic rings on the pore surface and forms a specific nanotrap for C2H6 with multiple C–H⋯π interaction sites. As a result, NKU-200-Tb exhibits an inverse adsorption behavior with a high C2H6/C2H4 selectivity of 2.06 and a large uptake ratio of 151% (60.27/39.95 cm3 g−1) at 298 K and 1 bar. The superior adsorption properties of NKU-200-Tb, combined with great structural stability, place it among the most promising stable C2H6-selective MOFs. Dynamic breakthrough experiments demonstrate that polymer-grade C2H4 (>99.9%) can be harvested in one step from a binary mixture of C2H6/C2H4 (10/90, v/v). This work signifies the synergy of pore surface chemistry and space confinement in promoting the challenging C2H6/C2H4 separation.

Graphical abstract: A highly connected metal–organic framework with a specific nonpolar nanotrap for inverse ethane/ethylene separation

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Research Article
Submitted
13 août 2023
Accepted
13 sept. 2023
First published
13 sept. 2023

Inorg. Chem. Front., 2023,10, 6407-6413

A highly connected metal–organic framework with a specific nonpolar nanotrap for inverse ethane/ethylene separation

J. Pang, Z. Ma, Q. Yang, K. Zhang, X. Lian, H. Huang, Z. Yao, B. Li, J. Xu and X. Bu, Inorg. Chem. Front., 2023, 10, 6407 DOI: 10.1039/D3QI01595E

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