Industrial Outlook on Zeolites and Metal Organic Frameworks

Crystalline nanoporous materials serve numerous pivotal functions in industrial chemistry. They provide crucial features for industrial applications, such as high surface area, uniform porosity, inter-connected pore/channel system, accessible pore volume, high adsorption capacity, ion-exchange ability, enhanced catalytic activity, and shape/size selectivity. As a well-established family of nanoporous materials, zeolites are of vital importance for the chemical and petrochemical industries. An emerging class of porous materials called metal organic frameworks (MOFs) also offer promise in various applications. Both zeolites and MOFs can play significant roles in fields that are critical for the future of our industrialized society. In the quest for raw material change, zeolites serve as catalysts providing the required shape/size selectivity towards base chemicals. In global efforts to transition into other transportation fuels such as Hydrogen, MOFs serve as the energy storage media. In the fight against environmental pollution, zeolites not only take part in capture and abatement of harmful substances, but also offer environmentally benign alternatives for many industrial processes. In this review, an industrial perspective on the synthesis and utilization of zeolites and MOFs for current and future applications is presented.