Refinement of pore size at sub-angstrom precision in robust metal–organic frameworks for separation of xylenes

Xiaolin Li, Juehua Wang, Nannan Bai, Xinran Zhang, Xue Han, Ivan Silva, Christopher G. Morris, Shaojun Xu, Damian M. Wilary, Yinyong Sun, Yongqiang Cheng, Claire A. Murray, Chiu C. Tang, Mark D. Frogley, Gianfelice Cinque, Tristan Lowe, Haifei Zhang, Anibal J. Ramirez-Cuesta, K. Mark Thomas, Leslie W. Bolton, Sihai Yang () and Martin Schröder ()
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Xiaolin Li: University of Manchester
Juehua Wang: University of Manchester
Nannan Bai: University of Manchester
Xinran Zhang: University of Manchester
Xue Han: University of Manchester
Ivan Silva: STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory
Christopher G. Morris: University of Manchester
Shaojun Xu: University of Manchester
Damian M. Wilary: University of Manchester
Yinyong Sun: Harbin Institute of Technology
Yongqiang Cheng: Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Claire A. Murray: Harwell Science Campus
Chiu C. Tang: Harwell Science Campus
Mark D. Frogley: Harwell Science Campus
Gianfelice Cinque: Harwell Science Campus
Tristan Lowe: University of Manchester
Haifei Zhang: University of Liverpool
Anibal J. Ramirez-Cuesta: Oak Ridge National Laboratory
K. Mark Thomas: Newcastle University
Leslie W. Bolton: BP Group Research
Sihai Yang: University of Manchester
Martin Schröder: University of Manchester

Nature Communications, 2020, vol. 11, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract The demand for xylenes is projected to increase over the coming decades. The separation of xylene isomers, particularly p- and m-xylenes, is vital for the production of numerous polymers and materials. However, current state-of-the-art separation is based upon fractional crystallisation at 220 K which is highly energy intensive. Here, we report the discrimination of xylene isomers via refinement of the pore size in a series of porous metal–organic frameworks, MFM-300, at sub-angstrom precision leading to the optimal kinetic separation of all three xylene isomers at room temperature. The exceptional performance of MFM-300 for xylene separation is confirmed by dynamic ternary breakthrough experiments. In-depth structural and vibrational investigations using synchrotron X-ray diffraction and terahertz spectroscopy define the underlying host–guest interactions that give rise to the observed selectivity (p-xylene

Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-17640-4

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