TY - JOUR
T1 - Scalable continuous solvothermal synthesis of metal organic framework (MOF-5) crystals
AU - McKinstry, Colin
AU - Cathcart, Russell J.
AU - Cussen, Edmund J.
AU - Fletcher, Ashleigh J.
AU - Patwardhan, Siddharth V.
AU - Sefcik, Jan
PY - 2016/2/1
Y1 - 2016/2/1
N2 - Metal-organic frameworks (MOF)s are well suited as nanoporous materials for applications such as gas storage, catalysis and in medical devices. Literature predominantly covers information on the batch synthesis of MOF-5, however, for an industrially viable product to be formed, bridging the gap to scalable continuous processing is essential. Here, we show that crystals of MOF-5 can be formed in a scalable solvothermal continuous process with a maximum space time yield of nearly 1000 kg m-3 day-1. Analysis of the solid output as a function of time, in conjunction with variation of concentration of the feed supply, shows high purity MOF-5 is produced using a continuous system, with potentially high throughput on scale up. We also show that the output can be increased by increasing the concentration of reactants in the system, albeit resulting in a reduced surface area. The two most common solvents currently used for MOF-5 production are also compared to identify a more economically viable process.
AB - Metal-organic frameworks (MOF)s are well suited as nanoporous materials for applications such as gas storage, catalysis and in medical devices. Literature predominantly covers information on the batch synthesis of MOF-5, however, for an industrially viable product to be formed, bridging the gap to scalable continuous processing is essential. Here, we show that crystals of MOF-5 can be formed in a scalable solvothermal continuous process with a maximum space time yield of nearly 1000 kg m-3 day-1. Analysis of the solid output as a function of time, in conjunction with variation of concentration of the feed supply, shows high purity MOF-5 is produced using a continuous system, with potentially high throughput on scale up. We also show that the output can be increased by increasing the concentration of reactants in the system, albeit resulting in a reduced surface area. The two most common solvents currently used for MOF-5 production are also compared to identify a more economically viable process.
KW - manufacturing
KW - microporous materials
KW - Zn4O(BDC)3
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84946197346&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.cej.2015.10.023
DO - 10.1016/j.cej.2015.10.023
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84946197346
SN - 1385-8947
VL - 285
SP - 718
EP - 725
JO - Chemical Engineering Journal
JF - Chemical Engineering Journal
ER -