(576f) Fabrication of Metal Organic Framework (MOF) Based Membrane

Metal Organic Framework (MOF) based membrane fabrication is relatively a neo-idea that is gaining considerable attention in research community. The whole idea is to impart pertinent properties of specific MOF concerned onto the membrane surface for tuning its morphology meeting specific applications. However, a major bottleneck before success of any such initiation would be synthesizing MOFs in pure form, devoid of any innate or external impurities and having good thermal and chemical stability.

Our present research aimed at synthesizing 3 different MOFs viz. Cu-BTC (HKUST-1), Cr-BDC (MIL-101) and Zn-BDC (MOF-5) and treating and testing them under several organic solvents in a way to remove and minimize impurities borne out during the hydrothermal synthesis and studying the effect of organic conditions. Different batches were synthesized and characterized. The specific surface areas of synthesized Cu-BTC varied between (ca. 850-1500 m² g^-1), Cr-BDC (ca. 2000-3500 m² g^-1) and finally Zn-BDC showed (ca. 500-1500 m² g^-1). The thermogravimetry analysis (TGA) of each of the MOF showed typical degradation profile. A shift towards low temperature degradation in the TGA plot was seen for different MOF samples and it was found to be a function of impurities present which was corroborated well by the packing density data.

A systematic methodology using ‘coating-techniques’ is trying to be developed to fabricate MOF based membrane and further research is continuing in our laboratory in this direction.