Metallo-organic molecular sieve for gas separation and purification

Abstract An improved synthesis process was developed for large-scale production of a highly porous material, [Cu 3 (BTC) 2 (H 2 O) x ] n , i.e., polymeric copper(II) benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylate with molecular-sieve character, denoted as Cu-BTC, where BTC denotes benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylate. A series of sorption properties for nitrogen, oxygen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane, ethylene, ethane, n -dodecane, and water were studied. A detailed investigation of sorption thermodynamics was performed for carbon dioxide by a sorption-isosteric method. The experimental results show that Cu-BTC can be used for separation of gas mixtures such as carbon dioxide–carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide–methane and ethylene–ethane mixtures. In addition, air can be purified effectively from carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, high-molecular weight hydrocarbons and moisture.