Rationally tuned micropores within enantiopure metal-organic frameworks for highly selective separation of acetylene and ethylene

Nat Commun. 2011 Feb 22:2:204. doi: 10.1038/ncomms1206.

Abstract

Separation of acetylene and ethylene is an important industrial process because both compounds are essential reagents for a range of chemical products and materials. Current separation approaches include the partial hydrogenation of acetylene into ethylene over a supported Pd catalyst, and the extraction of cracked olefins using an organic solvent; both routes are costly and energy consuming. Adsorption technologies may allow separation, but microporous materials exhibiting highly selective adsorption of C(2)H(2)/C(2)H(4) have not been realized to date. Here, we report the development of tunable microporous enantiopure mixed-metal-organic framework (M'MOF) materials for highly selective separation of C(2)H(2) and C(2)H(4). The high selectivities achieved suggest the potential application of microporous M'MOFs for practical adsorption-based separation of C(2)H(2)/C(2)H(4).

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Acetylene / chemistry*
  • Adsorption
  • Chemical Fractionation / methods*
  • Crystallization
  • Ethylenes / chemistry*
  • Micropore Filters*
  • Models, Molecular*
  • Molecular Structure
  • Organometallic Compounds / chemical synthesis*
  • Organometallic Compounds / chemistry*
  • Temperature

Substances

  • Ethylenes
  • Organometallic Compounds
  • ethylene
  • Acetylene