Separation of propylene and propane with a microporous metal–organic framework via equilibrium‐kinetic synergetic effect
Qi Ding, Zhaoqiang Zhang, Cong Yu, Peixin Zhang, Jun Wang, Liyun Kong, Xili Cui, Chao‐Hong He, Shuguang Deng, Huabin Xing
Abstract
Abstract Adsorption separation of olefin and paraffin can greatly lower the energy consumption associated with the currently utilized distillation technique but remains a great challenge. Herein, we report the efficient separation of propylene (C 3 H 6 ) and propane (C 3 H 8 ) in a phosphate anion‐functionalized metal–organic framework (MOF) ZnAtzPO 4 by synergetic effect of equilibrium and kinetics. The material features periodically expanded and contracted apertures decorated with electronegative groups, offering eligible pore shape and pore chemistry to effectively trap C 3 H 6 under moderate isosteric heat of adsorption (27.5 kJ mol −1 ) while obstruct the diffusion of C 3 H 8 . It simultaneously combines excellent thermodynamic selectivity (uptake ratio of 1.71) and kinetic selectivity (~31) for C 3 H 6 /C 3 H 8 separation, meanwhile can be easily regenerated. Breakthrough experiment for C 3 H 6 /C 3 H 8 gas mixture was conducted and confirmed the outstanding separation capability of ZnAtzPO 4 . The equilibrium and kinetics cooperative C 3 H 6 /C 3 H 8 adsorption separation was for the first time found in anion‐functionalized MOFs, and further confirmed by computational studies.