A Dy6-cluster-based fcu-MOF with efficient separation of C2H2/C2H4 and selective adsorption of benzene

The separation of C-2 hydrocarbon mixtures and VOCs is a very important and challenging process for industrial applications. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have attracted extensive attention as an efficient separation material. In this study, a Dy-MOF {[(CH3)(2)NH2](2)[Dy-6(mu(3)-OH)(8)(FTZB)(6)(H2O)(6)]center dot(solvent)}(n) based on the construction of Dy-6(mu(3)-OH)(8)(CO2)(6)(N4C)(6) SBUs and F-H(2)tzba (2-fluoro-4-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)benzoic acid) has been synthesized, which with a high-symmetry fcu topology contains two types of cages modified by free -F groups and uncoordinated tetrazolyl N atoms. The Dy-MOF exhibits high C2H2 and C2H4 storage and remarkable separation efficiency for C2H2-CH4, C2H4-CH4 and C2H2-C2H4 mixtures, as confirmed by breakthrough experiments. The MOF also shows significant selective adsorption ability for benzene/toluene and benzene/cyclohexane. The interactions between the MOF and the adsorbates were studied by molecular simulations.

Automated summary

A Dy-MOF with a high-symmetry fcu topology has been synthesized in this study, showing high storage capacity for C2H2 and C2H4, as well as remarkable separation efficiency for C2H2-CH4, C2H4-CH4, and C2H2-C2H4 mixtures. The MOF also exhibits significant selective adsorption ability for benzene/toluene and benzene/cyclohexane, as confirmed by molecular simulations.