Sorption of carbon dioxide, methane, nitrogen and carbon monoxide on MIL-101(Cr): Volumetric measurements and dynamic adsorption studies

Metal organic framework material, MIL-101(Cr), synthesized by hydrothermal method was granulated using starch and sodium salt of carboxyl methyl cellulose as binder. The equilibrium adsorption capacities of pure gases CO2, N2, CH4, and CO were measured at 288, 303 and 313 K up to 850 mm Hg on both powder and granules of MIL-101(Cr). The selectivity of CO2 over N2 in MIL-101(Cr) was found to be 12.6 at 303 K, more than those for CO2 over CH4 (5.69) and CO (2.90). The CO2 dynamic adsorption studies from binary gas mixture (CO2 + N2) with five different CO2 concentration in the range 5–50 vol.%, and with two different feed gas flow rates (50 and 100 mL/min), were carried out on MIL-101(Cr) granules. The regeneration of adsorbent was feasible at a relatively low temperature attributed to physical adsorption of CO2. The MIL-101(Cr) showed potential for CO2 adsorption compared with different types of carbon, silica and zeolite based adsorbents reported in the literature.

► Metal organic frameworks (MOFs) are promising in the field of Gas storage and separation.
► In this study we examine the separation properties of MIL-101(Cr) via single column Breakthrough measurement.
► Very high selectivity of CO2 over N2.
► Regeneration of MIL-101(Cr) is not energy intensive.