Clean production of Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework 8 using Zamak residues as metal precursor and substrate

Abstract

Metal Organic Frameworks (MOFs) are a new type of hybrid materials made of metal clusters and organic connectors with a large number of potential applications. Their synthesis is expensive, unclean and requires the use of analytical grade solvents and reagents. It is then desired to develop clean synthesis routes using cheap and easily available precursors. This study proposes the use of Zamak residues as the metal precursor, and a solvent-free method was used for the synthesis. The method consists in the immersion of Zamak residues into melted 2-methylimidazole, which acts as the organic connector, yielding high-quality Metal Organic Frameworks crystals of the so-called Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework 8 (ZIF-8) in a solvet-free process. The obtained material has the same crystal structure and textural properties than that produced by BASF and commercialized by Sigma-Aldrich (Basolite Z1200). The cleaning and purification of the Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework 8 could also be done by just washing the material with water. It makes this approach of Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework 8 production cheap, clean and scalable. This production method has been extended to the use of other alloys residues such as brass plates.