Hybridization of metal–organic framework and monodisperse spherical silica for chromatographic separation of xylene isomers

Metal–organic frameworks(MOFs) packed in the column have been a promising candidate as the stationary phase for high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC). However, the direct packing of irregular MOF powder could raise some problems like high back pressure and low column efficiency in the HPLC separation. In this work, UiO-66 capable of separating xylenes was supported effectively on the surface of the monodisperse spherical silica microspheres by one-pot method. The hybridization of Ui O-66 and silica microspheres(termed UiO-66@SiO_2 shell–core composite) was prepared by stirring the suspension of the precursors of Ui O-66 and\\COOH terminated silica in the N,N-dimethylformamide with heating. The shell–core composite material UiO66@SiO_2 was characterized by SEM, TEM, PXRD and FTIR. Then, it was used as a packing material for the chromatographic separation of xylene isomers. Xylene isomers including o-xylene, m-xylene and p-xylene were efficiently separated on the column with high resolution and good reproducibility. Moreover, the Ui O-66@SiO_2 shell–core composites packed column still remained reverse shape selectivity as Ui O-66 possessed, and the retention of xylenes was probably ascribed to the hydrophobic effect between analytes and the aromatic rings of the Ui O-66 shell. The Ui O-66@SiO_2 shell–core composites obtained in this study have some potential for the separation of structural isomers in HPLC.     

Improving CH4 uptake and CH4/N2 separation in pillar-layered metal–organic frameworks using a regulating strategy of interlayer channels

A pore engineering strategy involving the regulation of pillars in a series of pillar-layered metal–organic frameworks was presented to promote pore size adjustment and pore environment optimization for efficient separation of CH₄ from coal-mine methane. Compared with the original Ni(BTC)(BPY) and Ni(BTC)(TED), the suitable pore size and rich supply of carboxylate oxygens in the newly constructed Ni(BTC)(PIZ) resulted in the strongest recognition of CH₄, leading to both high CH₄ uptake (1.62 mmol/g) and CH₄/N₂ (50/50) selectivity (7.32) at 298 K and 1 bar. Its optimal balance performance between uptake and selectivity was better than most reported adsorbents, which further led to the most efficient separation of CH₄ from CH₄/N₂ mixtures. The stability of the structure and performance was verified by repeated cycle tests. Overall, it is believed the structure constructed based on the regulation strategy of the interlayer channel would enable the application of promising metal–organic frameworks in industrial gas separation processes.     

Adsorption removal of o-nitrophenol and p-nitrophenol from wastewater by metal–organic framework Cr-BDC

In the present paper, a metal–organic framework Cr-BDC was prepared and used as adsorbent for adsorption of o-nitrophenol(ONP) and p-nitrophenol(PNP) from aqueous solutions. Cr-BDC was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscope, X-ray diffraction and BET methods. The results indicate that Cr-BDC gets a very large specific surface area of 4128 m~2·g~(-1)and pore sizes are concentrated in 1 nm, which is a benefit for using for wastewater treatment. The influences of the adsorption conditions, such as temperature,solution concentration, adsorption time and reusability on adsorption performance were investigated. Cr-BDC exhibited an encouraging uptake capacity of 310.0 mg·g~(-1)for ONP, and adsorption capacity of Cr-BDC for ONP is significantly higher than that for PNP under suitable adsorption conditions. The characterizations of adsorption process were examined with the Lagergren pseudo-first-order, the pseudo-second-order kinetic model, and the intra-particular diffusion model. Kinetics experiments indicated that the pseudo-second-order model displayed the best correlation with adsorption kinetics data. Furthermore, our adsorption equilibrium data could be better described by the Freundlich equation. The results indicate that the as-prepared Cr-BDC is promising for use as an effective and economical adsorbent for ONP removal.     

Computational exploration of H2S/CH4 mixture separation using acid-functionalized UiO-66(Zr) membrane and composites☆

A computational study was firstly performed in this work to examine the applicability of an acid-functionalized metal-organic framework (MOF), UiO-66(Zr)-(COOH)₂, in membrane-based H₂S/CH₄ separation. The results showthat this MOF could be potentially interesting when being used as the pure membrane material for the separation of the mixturewith low H₂S concentration. Further, the performance of 10 different mixed matrixmembranes (MMMs) on the basis of the MOF was predicted by combing the molecular simulation data and the Maxwell permeationmodel. The results indicate that using this MOF as filler particles in MMMs can significantly enhance the permeation performance of pure polymers. The findings obtained in this work may be helpful in facilitating the application of this promising MOF for practical desulfurization process of fuel gas.     

Mixed matrix metal–organic framework membranes for efficient CO2/N2 separation under humid conditions

Mixed matrix metal–organic framework (MOF) membranes show excellent application prospects in gas separation. However, their stability in various practical application scenarios is poor, especially under humid conditions. Herein, we encapsulated a hydrophobic ionic liquid (IL) into the cavity of MOFs, which effectively mitigated the competition between H₂O and CO₂ in humid gas mixtures, leading to stable and high-performance gas separation. For this reason, the resulting membranes using polymer of intrinsic miroporosity-1 (PIM-1) as a polymer matrix show good CO₂/N₂ separation performance and long-term test stability under humid environment. In particular, the 20 wt% IL-UiO/PIM-1 shows a high permeability of 13,778 Barrer and competitive CO₂/N₂ separation factor of ~35.2, transcending the latest upper bound. Besides, the according membrane module exhibits slightly decreased CO₂ permeability and selectivity, promoting the application of self-supporting membranes. This work provides a reliable strategy for the rational design of MOF-based hybrid membranes under extreme conditions.     

Selective adsorption of CO2/N2 promoted by polar ligand functional groups of metal–organic frameworks

Journal of Porous Materials - The structure modification of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) is a promising technique to enhance its selective adsorption of carbon dioxide at room...     

Adsorption separation of CO2, CH4 and N2 on β-zeolite with different SiO2/Al2O3 ratios

采用体积法在273 K和303 K温度下对CO2、CH4和N2在不同硅/铝比的β沸石上的吸附分离性能进行了研究。实验结果表明,Langmuir-Freundlich模型能够较好地拟合吸附实验数据;同一样品上,CO2的吸附量要大于CH4和N2的吸附量;随着硅铝比的减小CO2的吸附量增加,而硅/铝比对CH4和N2的吸附量的影响较小。通过结合Virial方程计算CO2、CH4和N2在不同硅/铝比β沸石上的亨利定律常数和吸附选择性,发现所研究样品对CO2/CH4和CO2/N2均具有很高的吸附选择性,随着样品硅/铝比的减小,CO2/CH4和CO2/N2的吸附选择性显著增加,说明较低硅/铝比β沸石有利于分离CO2。用Clausius-Clapeyron方程求得CO2、CH4和N2在不同硅/铝比的β沸石上的吸附热与吸附量无关,表明β沸石是一种表面势场均匀的吸附剂。     

Novel method for separation and screening of lubricant-degrading microorganisms and bacterial biodegradation☆

With the rapid increase of lubricant consumption,oil contamination becomes more serious.Biotreatment is an important method to remove oil contamination with some advantages.In this study,acclimatized oilcontaminated soil and used lubricating oil were sampled to isolate lubricant-degrading strains by several methods.51 isolates were obtained and 24-well plates were employed to assess bacterial potential in highthroughput screening.The method was noted for the prominence of oil–water two-phase system with saving chemicals,shortening cycles and lessening workloads.In order to decrease inaccuracy,subculture and resting cells were inoculated into mineral salt medium with 200 μl oil in well plates for the cultivation at 37 °C for 5and 7 days,and the biodegradation potential was characterized by the changes of oil film and cell density.With appropriate evaluation by shaking flask tests,5 isolates were retained for their potentials with the maximum biodegradation from 1500 to 2200 mg · L~(-1)and identified as Acidovorax citrulli,Pseudomonas balearica,Acinetobacter johnsonii(two isolates with different biodegradation potentials)and Acidovorax avenae using 16 S r RNA sequencing analysis.Also,lipase activity was determined using indicator titration and p-nitrophenyl palmitate(p-NPP)methods.The results indicated that only p-NPP was successful to test lipase activity with the range of 1.93–6.29 U · ml~(-1).Although these five strains could degrade 1000 mg · L~(-1)lubricating oil in158–168 h,there existed distinct difference in enzyme activity,which demonstrates that lipase activity could not be used as the criterion to evaluate microbial biodegradation potential for petroleum hydrocarbons.     

一维直孔道MOFs对CH4/N2和CO2/CH4的分离

非常规天然气未来可以作为常规天然气的有效补充,其中低浓度煤层气和生物质燃气分别需要脱除大量的N₂ 和CO₂以达到富集和纯化CH₄的目的。本研究针对CH₄/N₂这一对较难分离的气体组合,选取了具有一维菱形孔道的MOFs材料Cu(INA)₂作为吸附剂,将合成的样品做了XRD和TG表征,测试了纯气体CO₂、CH₄和N₂的吸附曲线,利用巨正则系综蒙特卡罗(GCMC)分子模拟和理想吸附溶液理论(IAST)计算了气体的吸附热和该材料对于CH₄/N₂和CO₂/CH₄的吸附选择性系数;3 MPa压力下制备的颗粒样品填装吸附分离装置,进行了混合气体CH₄/N₂ (50%/50%)和CO₂/CH₄ (50%/50%)的穿透试验,分离的结果显示,Cu(INA)₂不仅高选择性地吸附CH₄/N₂混合物中的CH₄(S_CH4/N2=10),而且对CH₄/N₂的分离效果优于CO₂/CH₄。     

Separation of CH4/N2 by an ultra-stable metal–organic framework with the highest breakthrough selectivity

Selectively separating CH₄ from N₂ in natural gas purification is extremely important, but challenging. Herein, a copper-based metal–organic framework (MOF) NKMOF-8-Me with inert pore environment was reported for efficient CH₄/N₂ separation. Adsorption results show that this material owns the highest CH₄ uptake (1.76 mmol/g) and initial adsorption heat (Q_st⁰) of CH₄ (28.0 kJ/mol) as well as difference in Q_st⁰ (9.1 kJ/mol) among all materials with good water stability. Breakthrough experiments confirm that this MOF can completely separate the CH₄/N₂ mixture with the highest CH₄/N₂ breakthrough selectivity (7.8) reported so far. Theoretical calculations reveal the separation mechanism is the short average distance between CH₄ and pore wall, resulting in a stronger adsorption affinity for CH₄. In addition, this MOF exhibits highly structural stability and regeneration. These results guarantee this MOF as a promising adsorbent for the recovery of CH₄ from coalbed methane.     

Beyond graphene oxides: Emerging 2D molecular sieve membranes for efficient separation☆

Recent decades witnessed the significant progress made in the research field of 2D molecular sieve membranes.In comparison with their 3D counterparts, 2D molecular sieve membranes possessed several unique advantages like significantly reduced membrane thickness(one atom thick in theory) and diversified molecular sieving mechanisms(in-plane pores within nanosheets interlayer galleries between nanosheets). M. Tsapatsis first carried out pioneering work on fabrication of lamellar ZSM-5 membrane. Since then, diverse 2D materials typically including graphene oxides(GOs) have been fabricated into membranes showing promising prospects in energy-efficient gas separation, pervaporation, desalination and nanofiltration. In addition to GOs, other emerging 2D materials, including 2D zeolites, 2D metal–organic frameworks(MOFs), 2 D covalent-organic frameworks(COFs), layered double hydroxides(LDHs), transition metal dichalcogenides(TMDCs), MXenes(typically Ti_3C_2TX), graphitic carbon nitrides(typically g-C_3N_4), hexagonal boron nitride(h-BN) and montmorillonites(MT) are showing intriguing performance in membrane-based separation process. This article summarized the most recent developments in the field of 2D molecular sieve membranes aside from GOs with particular emphasis on their structure–performance relationship and application prospects in industrial separation.     

Synthesis and characterization of homo- and heterometallic metal–organic frameworks based on 1,2,4,5-benzenetetracarboxylate ligand

Two new three-dimensional metal–organic frameworks, [H₂N(CH₃)₂]₂[Zn(btec)]·DMF (1, H₄btec = 1,2,4,5-benzenetetracarboxylate acid) and [H₂N(CH₃)₂][ZnLi(btec)]·DMF (2), have been solvothermally synthesized and structurally characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Compound 1 based on μ₄-btec features an anionic homometallic framework with 4-connected pts topology. Compound 2 is a heterometallic organic framework with rare (4, 4, 8)-connected network topology, which can be considered as constitute of a Li-btec (pts) net and a Zn-btec net. Moreover, the luminescent properties of two compounds are investigated in the solid state at room temperature.     

CO2/CH4/N2在沸石13X-APG上的吸附平衡

采用磁悬浮热天平测量了CO₂、CH₄与N₂在沸石13X-APG上的吸附等温线,温度为293、303、333和363 K,压力为0～500 kPa。对吸附平衡实验数据采用multi-site Langmuir模型和Sips模型进行拟合,均得到良好的拟合效果,非线性回归得到吸附热等模型参数,可为变压吸附工艺过程的开发提供基础热力学数据。将沸石13X-APG吸附分离性能与文献中报道的吸附材料(如沸石分子筛、活性炭、金属有机骨架材料和介孔硅分子筛)性能相比较。通过比较CO₂、CH₄与N₂吸附容量以及相对分离系数,探讨CO₂/CH₄(垃圾填埋气或者CO₂强化煤层甲烷回收气)体系、CO₂/N₂(燃煤电厂、水泥厂以及焦炭厂烟道气)体系以及CH₄/N₂(煤层气)体系吸附分离的高效材料,为未来二氧化碳吸附捕集和甲烷吸附回收提供基础数据。     

吸附分离CH4/N2可行性研究

The separation between methane and nitrogen is an inevitable and important task in the C1 chemical technology and the utilization of methane from coalbed, yet it is considered to be one of the tough tasks in the field of separation. Pressure swing adsorption is a preferable technology if an adsorbent that allowing a large coefficient of separation for the CH4/N2 system is available. The separation coefficients between CH4 and N2 were obtained on analyzing the breakthrough curves measured experimentally with nine adsorbents. A technique of measuring the temperature-pulse was incorporated in the experiments, and the reliability of the result was improved. Superactivated carbon with large surface area and plenty of micropores was shown to have the largest separation coefficient and to be promising for the commercial utilization.     

基于沸石ZSM-5的CH4/N2/CO2二元体系吸附平衡

采用Rubotherm磁悬浮天平测量CH₄、N₂和CO₂在沸石ZSM-5上的单组分吸附平衡等温线,温度273～353 K,压力0～500 kPa。采用Sips模型、Toth模型和MSL模型对单组分吸附平衡实验数据进行拟合,拟合结果良好,非线性回归得到相应的模型参数。测量双组分CO₂/N₂、CO₂/CH₄和CH₄/N₂在沸石ZSM-5上的竞争吸附平衡等温线,实验温度为293 K,实验压力为0～500 kPa。采用基于Sips模型的理想吸附溶液理论和双组分MSL模型预测双组分气体在沸石ZSM-5上的竞争吸附平衡等温线,并与实验结果进行比较,预测结果良好。比较CO₂/N₂、CO₂/CH₄以及CH₄/N₂体系在沸石ZSM-5上的竞争吸附选择性系数,探究沸石ZSM-5吸附分离烟道气（CO₂/N₂体系）、垃圾填埋气（CO₂/CH₄体系）或煤层气（CH₄/N₂体系）的可行性,为将来进行工艺设计提供基础数据。     

Topology and porosity control on zirconium–fumarate frameworks boosting xenon/krypton separation

The designability and ultrahigh stability of zirconium–organic frameworks make them attractive adsorbents for noble gases xenon (Xe) and krypton (Kr), but their Xe/Kr separation performance needs to be further enhanced. In this study, we rationally control the topology and porosity of zirconium–fumarate frameworks by simply changing the synthesis conditions, and successfully construct an adsorbent (named as MIP-203-F) with one-dimensional pore instead of the original cage-like fcu metal–organic framework MOF-801. The Xe/Kr separation performance of MIP-203-F is thoroughly evaluated by isotherm measurements and breakthrough experiments, while the adsorption mechanism is elucidated in detail by Monte Carlo and density functional theory calculations. Due to the uniform pore with suitable size and abundant polarization groups, MIP-203-F can differentially polarize and recognize atomic Xe/Kr gases, and establishes a new record among zirconium–organic frameworks for the capture and separation of Xe/Kr.     

炭分子筛CH4/N2吸附分离

煤层气(CBM)是一种非常规天然气。在中国,煤层气在抽采出来时常混有空气。考虑到安全因素,氧气首先应该被去除。之后,煤层气利用的最重要步骤则是甲烷-氮气混合气体的甲烷高效提浓。本文搭建了双床变压吸附(PSA)装置,选择特定的炭分子筛(CMS)进行CH₄/N₂混合物分离实验研究。由于CMS的动力学吸附特性,氮被吸附在CMS上,带有一定压力的甲烷则连续输出。研究了吸附压力、进气速度和循环周期等因素对吸附过程整体性能的影响。从50% CH₄/50% N₂的原料气可以获得95.45%纯度的甲烷产品,而从30% CH₄/70% N₂的原料气可以获得94.89%纯度的甲烷产品。研究表明,以上3个参数都对分离性能有影响,其中后两者的影响更大。在较低吸附压力和较低进气速度时更容易获得纯度90%以上的甲烷产品。另外,循环周期越短,获得的甲烷纯度越高。     

Nonthermal plasma (NTP) activated metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) catalyst for catalytic CO2 hydrogenation

A systematic study of Ni supported on metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) catalyst (i.e., 15Ni/UiO-66) for catalytic CO₂ hydrogenation under nonthermal plasma (NTP) conditions was presented. The catalyst outperformed other catalysts based on conventional supports such as ZrO₂, representing highest CO₂ conversion and CH₄ selectivity at about 85 and 99%, respectively. We found that the turnover frequency of the NTP catalysis system (1.8 ± 0.02 s⁻¹) has a nearly two-fold improvement compared with the thermal catalysis (1.0 ± 0.06 s⁻¹). After 20 hr test, XPS and HRTEM characterizations confirmed the stability of the 15Ni/UiO-66 catalyst in the NTP-activated catalysis. The activation barrier for the NTP-activated catalysis was calculated as ~32 kJ mol⁻¹, being lower than the activation energy of the thermal catalysis (~70 kJ mol⁻¹). In situ DRIFTS characterization confirmed the formation of multiple carbonates and formates on catalyst surface activated by NTP, surpassing the control catalysts (e.g., 15Ni/α-Al₂O₃ and 15Ni/ZrO₂).