A Stable Pillared-layer Metal-organic Framework for Recovery of C2H6 and
C3H8 from Natural Gas
Abstract
Separation and recovery of C2H6 and C3H8 from natural gas is a
potentially economical but challenging subject in the petroleum
industry. In this work, we report a stable pillared-layer microporous
MOF, Ni(TMBDC)(DABCO)0.5 for the separation of C2H6 and C3H8 from
natural gas. Ni(TMBDC)(DABCO)0.5 remained intact structure after
exposure to humid air with RH = 100% for days. Derived from the
combination of dense and accessible methyl group and methylene group in
the channel, Ni(TMBDC)(DABCO)0.5 exhibited strong affinity toward C3H8
and C2H6, with remarkably high capacities of 2.80 mmol/g at 1 kPa and
3.37 mmol/g at 5 kPa for C3H8, as well as 2.93 mmol/g at 10 kPa for
C2H6. Its IAST selectivities of C3H8/CH4 and C2H6/CH4 reached 274 and
29, respectively. The complete separation of CH4/C2H6/C3H8 ternary
mixture on breakthrough experiment demonstrated the great potential on
recovery of C2H6 and C3H8 from natural gas through a Ni(TMBDC)(DABCO)0.5
packed column.