Unblocking a rigid purine MOF for kinetic separation of xylenes.
Richelle LyndonYuxiang WangIan M WaltonYao MaYang LiuZhenzi YuGuanghui ZhuSamuel BerensYu-Sheng ChenSuYin G WangSergey VasenkovDavid S ShollKrista S WaltonSimon H PangRyan P LivelyPublished in: Chemical communications (Cambridge, England) (2022)
The separation of xylene isomers still remains an industrially challenging task. Here, porous purine-based metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have been synthesized and studied for their potential in xylene separations. In particular, Zn(purine)I showed excellent para -xylene/ ortho -xylene separation capability with a diffusion selectivity of 6 and high equilibrium adsorption selectivity as indicated by coadsorption experiments. This high selectivity is attributed to the shape and size of the channel aperture within the rigid framework of Zn(purine)I.