Hexane isomers sorption on a functionalized metal–organic framework

• DOI: 10.1016/j.micromeso.2012.12.017
• Publication Date: 2012-12-20T02:33:07Z
• Authors: Patricia A.P. Mendes; Florence Ragon; Alírio E. Rodrigues; Patricia Horcajada; Christian Serre; José A.C. Silva
• Keywords: Hexane; Surface Modification

Abstract A series of functionalized porous Zr terephthalate MOFs of the UiO-66(Zr) structure type bearing either Br, NH 2 or NO 2 groups have been synthesized at the multi-gram scale through an atmospheric pressure solvothermal route with the final aim of investigating the influence of functionalization on the separation of hexane isomers (22DMB, 23DMB, 3MP and n HEX). The studies performed in a fixed bed adsorption column with equimolar mixtures at temperatures between 343 and 423 K and partial pressure up to 10 kPa have shown that the Br, NO 2 and NH 3 forms exhibit an uptake reaching 15%, being the sorption selectivity hierarchy on the whole comparable to the bared UiO-66 solid: 22DMB ≈ 23DMB > 3MP ≫ n HEX. The 22DMB/ n HEX selectivity reaches approximately three at low uptake while the 22DMB/3MP selectivity of UiO-66_NO 2 is nearly constant (1.3).