Ideal Molecular Splitter with Object Adaptive for Benchmark n-Butylene/iso-Butylene Separation

Yu Peng Jiang, Chenghua Deng, Chen Xi Liang, Xiaowan Peng, Zeyang Zhang, Li Zhao, Xue Cui Wu, Jin Sheng Zou, Yanan Jia, Mei Jing Cheng, Jia Han Li, Jie Zhang, Yun Lei Peng, Manglai Gao, Guang Jin Chen, Michael J. Zaworotko

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The design of an ecologically friendly and low-energy adsorption separator for acquiring high-purity n-butene (n-C4H8) and iso-butene (i-C4H8) has been anticipated but has not yet materialized. Here, we proposed a physical adsorbent (CALF-20) of a super cage with four-way through and window-specific shrinkage for high-efficiency molecular sieving n-C4H8 and i-C4H8. Compared with other molecular sieving materials, the adsorption capacity of n-C4H8 created a new benchmark (64.27, 54.82, and 0.01 bar). In situ single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD) and computational simulation validated the vital role of window-specific shrinkage and object adaptation of CALF-20 for high-efficiency molecular sieving and enhancing the n-C4H8 binding interaction. Breakthrough experiments under dry and humid circumstances proved that CALF-20 can achieve efficiently purified i-C4H8 (≥99.999%) with a benchmark productivity of 105 L/kg by one-step adsorption from a n-C4H8/i-C4H8 (50/50, v/v) mixture. The excellent separation performance of CALF-20 provides a perfect platform for industrial separation applications.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)4972-4979
Number of pages8
JournalACS Materials Letters
Volume6
Issue number11
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 4 Nov 2024

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