A Complete Separation of Hexane Isomers by a Functionalized Flexible Metal Organic Framework

The separation ability of branched alkane isomers (nHEX, 3MP, 22DMB) of the flexible and functionalized microporous iron(III) dicarboxylate MIL-53(Fe)-(CF3)(2) solid is evaluated through a combination of breakthrough experiments (binary or ternary mixtures), adsorption isotherms, X-ray diffraction temperature analysis, quasi-elastic neutron scattering measurements and molecular dynamics simulations. A kinetically controlled molecular sieve separation between the di-branched isomer of hexane 22DMB from a mixture of paraffins is achieved. The reported total separation between mono-and di-branched alkanes which was neither predicted nor observed so far in any class of porous solids is spectacular and paves the way towards a potential unprecedented upgrading of the RON of gasoline.