TY - JOUR
T1 - A zeolitic imidazolate framework with uncoordinated cyano groups in mixed matrix membranes for efficient propylene/propane separation
AU - Yu, Guangli
AU - Wang, Ziyang
AU - Dong, Junchao
AU - Ni, Fei
AU - Song, Dandan
AU - Liu, Terence Xiaoteng
AU - Yuan, Zhanhui
AU - Wang, Kangjun
AU - Zou, Xiaoqin
PY - 2025/2/1
Y1 - 2025/2/1
N2 - Membrane technology is poised to substantially lower the energy consumption involved in the separation of C3H6 from C3H8. However, the quest for suitable membrane materials for this critical process remains an ongoing challenge. Herein, a novel metal–organic framework (MOF) having cyano groups, thus referring to CN-ZIF-8, has been successfully identified and developed as productive nanofillers into 6FDA-DAM polymer. Unlike ZIF-8, CN-ZIF-8 exhibits a stronger affinity for C3H6 and demonstrates favorable thermodynamic selectivity for recognizing it from C3H8 due to the presence of dangling cyano groups, as confirmed by gas sorption. The optimal membrane with a 15 wt% CN-ZIF-8 loading evinces improved separation performance in terms of ≥80 % increase in ideal selectivity (∼23.6) and 144 % in C3H6 permeability (∼379.8 Barrer) compared to the pristine 6FDA-DAM membrane. Mixed gas separation of a 50C3H6:50C3H8 delivers remarkable separation results, out-performing the current trade-off limits associated with conventional polymer membranes. The synergistic effects of high gas solubility and the unique diffusivity behavior of CN-ZIF-8 effectively discriminate C3H6 from C3H8. This study offers valuable insights into the exploration and the design of MOFs intended for the industrial C3H6/C3H8 separation.
AB - Membrane technology is poised to substantially lower the energy consumption involved in the separation of C3H6 from C3H8. However, the quest for suitable membrane materials for this critical process remains an ongoing challenge. Herein, a novel metal–organic framework (MOF) having cyano groups, thus referring to CN-ZIF-8, has been successfully identified and developed as productive nanofillers into 6FDA-DAM polymer. Unlike ZIF-8, CN-ZIF-8 exhibits a stronger affinity for C3H6 and demonstrates favorable thermodynamic selectivity for recognizing it from C3H8 due to the presence of dangling cyano groups, as confirmed by gas sorption. The optimal membrane with a 15 wt% CN-ZIF-8 loading evinces improved separation performance in terms of ≥80 % increase in ideal selectivity (∼23.6) and 144 % in C3H6 permeability (∼379.8 Barrer) compared to the pristine 6FDA-DAM membrane. Mixed gas separation of a 50C3H6:50C3H8 delivers remarkable separation results, out-performing the current trade-off limits associated with conventional polymer membranes. The synergistic effects of high gas solubility and the unique diffusivity behavior of CN-ZIF-8 effectively discriminate C3H6 from C3H8. This study offers valuable insights into the exploration and the design of MOFs intended for the industrial C3H6/C3H8 separation.
KW - C H /C H separation
KW - CN-ZIF-8
KW - Metal organic frameworks
KW - Separation membranes
KW - Thermodynamic selectivity
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85214288768&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.cej.2025.159352
DO - 10.1016/j.cej.2025.159352
M3 - Article
SN - 1385-8947
VL - 505
JO - Chemical Engineering Journal
JF - Chemical Engineering Journal
M1 - 159352
ER -