Seeds-assisted synthesis of Zr-based metal-organic framework (MIP-202) for efficient adsorption separation of CO2/CH4 and CO2/N2

Nanoscale Zr-based metal-organic framework (MIP-202) particles were successfully prepared via a seeds-assisted hydrothermal secondary synthesis. The uniformly-shaped MIP-202 particles exhibit excellent performance on selective CO 2 adsorption from CO 2 /CH 4 and CO 2 /N 2 mixtures. At 298 K and 1 bar, the uptake ratios of CO 2 /CH 4 and CO 2 /N 2 of MIP-202 particles are as high as 32.6 and 65.2, respectively. The IAST (ideal adsorbed solution theory)-predicted selectivities of CO 2 /N 2 (50/50, v/v) and CO 2 /CH 4 (50/50, v/v) reach to 4.5 × 10 10 and 102.2, respectively. The breakthrough experiments further demonstrate that the CO 2 /CH 4 and CO 2 /N 2 mixtures can be efficiently separated through an adsorption column packed with MIP-202 particles. In addition, the as-prepared MIP-202 particles had a low iso-enthalpy of adsorption of CO 2 of 32.95 kJ/mol, which is favorable for the regeneration of the adsorbent. Herein the as-prepared MIP-202 is a potential material for efficient separation of CO 2 from CH 4 or N 2 through an energy- and cost-saving CO 2 capture process.