Continuous synthesis for zirconium metal-organic frameworks with high quality and productivity via microdroplet flow reaction

Zirconium metal-organic frameworks (Zr-MOFs) represent the most promising candidates among MOFs for industrial utilizations owing to their high porosity and excellent stability. However, the efficient synthesis of Zr-MOFs combining with continuous production, high productivity and good product quality still remains a critical issue for practical applications. Herein, we report an efficient method of synthesizing a series of Zr-MOFs through a microdroplet flow reaction, which is more accommodate the requirements of industrial production. Four types of Zr-based MOFs with different ligands and topologies (MOF-801, MOF-804, DUT-67 and MOF-808) were produced as a pure phase of high quality crystalline with uniform morphologies. Furthermore, this series of Zr-MOFs were obtained in a continuous way and at a space-time yield (STY) highly up to 367.2 kg m(-3) d(-1). These MOFs exhibit the similar pore structure and thermal stability with that prepared from conventional solvothermal synthesis. CO2 sorption studies on these MOFs demonstrate that the hydroxyl groups on ligand can render MOFs with high CO2/N-2 selectivity. (C) 2017 Chinese Chemical Society and Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.