(510d) Investigation of the Dynamic Adsorption of CO Using Metal-Organic Frameworks

Carbon Monoxide (CO) is an important industrial gas. Its uses range from being a reducing agent in the smelting metals to being a vital component of synthesis gas (syngas), used during the synthesis of methanol and synthetic oils. Production of CO is accomplished through various processes typically involving partial combustion of hydrocarbon. These processes result in impurities in the gas stream, including nitrogen (N₂), carbon dioxide (CO₂) and water (H₂O). Due to similar size, molecular weight and boiling points, it is particularly challenging to separate CO and N₂. Presently, the most common large scale method for this separation is through cryogenic distillation. This approach is not only costly, but also ineffective in purifying CO with high concentrations of N₂.

This study investigates the use of a class of adsorbents, namely metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), for purification and separation of CO from gas streams containing high levels of N₂. Particularly, several MOFs were synthesized, characterized and then tested for CO adsorption under dynamic conditions. The effect of Cu⁺ impregnation on the performance of the materials was investigated as well. The mechanisms of adsorption were studied so as to identify the features controlling the uptake and selectivity and lead to the design of better adsorbents.