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Title: Light Hydrocarbon Separations Using Porous Organic Framework Materials

Journal Article · · Chemistry - A European Journal
 [1];  [2];  [3]; ORCiD logo [1];  [4]
  1. Jilin Univ., Changchun (China)
  2. Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
  3. Jiaxing Univ. (China)
  4. Northeast Normal Univ., Changchun (China)

Light hydrocarbons (C1–C3) are used as basic energy feedstocks and as commodity organic compounds for the production of many industrially necessary chemicals. Due to the nature of the raw materials and production processes, light hydrocarbons are generated as mixtures, but the high-purity single-component products are of vital importance to the petrochemical industry. Consequently, the separation of these C1–C3 products is a crucial industrial procedure that comprises a significant share of the total global energy consumption per year. As a complement to traditional separation methods (distillation, partial hydrogenation, etc.), adsorptive separations using porous solids have received widespread attention due to their lower energy costs and higher efficiency. Extensive research has been devoted to the use of porous materials such as zeolites and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) as solid adsorbents for these key separations, owing to the high porosity, tunable pore structures, and unsaturated metal sites present in these materials. Recently, porous organic framework (POF) materials composed of organic building blocks linked by covalent bonds have also shown excellent properties in light hydrocarbon adsorption and separation, sparking interest in the use of these materials as adsorbents in separation processes. In this Minireview we summarize the recent advances in the use of POFs for light hydrocarbon separations, including the separation of mixtures of methane/ethane, methane/propane, ethylene/ethane, acetylene/ethylene, and propylene/propane, while highlighting the relationships between the structural features of these materials and their separation performances. Finally, the difficulties, challenges, and opportunities associated with leveraging POFs for light hydrocarbon separations are discussed to conclude the review.

Research Organization:
Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States). Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies (CINT)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA); National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC04-94AL85000; NA-0003525; 21975096; 21531003; 91622106
OSTI ID:
1697989
Report Number(s):
SAND-2019-13473J; 681122
Journal Information:
Chemistry - A European Journal, Vol. 26, Issue 15; ISSN 0947-6539
Publisher:
ChemPubSoc EuropeCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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