Applications of metal-organic frameworks as stationary phases in chromatography

As a new family of mesoporous and microporous materials, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are considered versatile materials for widespread technical applications. We summarize some of the eminent properties of MOFs and the development in the application of MOFs in chromatography, especially the advantages they could bring to gas chromatography (GC) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The application of MOFs as novel stationary phases in chromatography in place of conventional materials has led to notable improvements in the performance of GC and HPLC. We highlight differences in chromatographic performance between MOFs and conventional sorbents, such as zeolites, before discussing the future prospects for MOFs in chromatography. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.