Rapid and efficient crystallization of MIL-53(Fe) by ultrasound and microwave irradiation

MIL-53(Fe), a metal–organic framework material has been synthesized by conventional electric (CE) heating, and by ultrasound (UTS) and microwave (MW) irradiation to develop rapid and energy efficient alternative synthesis techniques. The operating conditions of each of the synthesis methods were varied to study their effects on product yield and crystallinity. Highly crystalline materials were synthesized in 10 min from MW irradiation and in 7 min from UTS irradiation. The product yields from UTS irradiation were observed to be less than those obtained from CE heating and MW irradiation. CE heating resulted in the formation of two different crystal morphologies, whereas MW and UTS conditions rapidly produced small and homogeneous crystals. The energy consumption of UTS and MW irradiation were also shown to be far less than CE heating, confirming that these two technologies are quicker, more efficient and greener alternatives to conventional synthesis methods.

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► MIL-53(Fe) was synthesized by conventional electric (CE) heating, ultrasound (UTS) and microwave (MW) irradiation.
► Highly crystalline materials were synthesized in 10 min by MW and in 7 min by UTS.
► CE heating resulted in the formation of two different crystal morphologies.
► MW and UTS rapidly produced small and homogeneous crystals.
► The energy consumption of UTS and MW irradiation were far less than CE heating.