Abstract
Novel adsorbents for methane and ethane based on HKUST-1 metal-organic framework were synthesized by microwave (MW) assisted technique using ionic liquids (ILs) as synthesis media. It was found that the MW synthesis time remarkably impacts both the product yield and the physico-chemical characteristics of the produced HKUST-1 material. The crystalline phase purity, crystallite size/dispersion and textural properties of the synthesized HKUST-1 matrices determine their performance in methane and ethane adsorption. Therefore, the HKUST-1 material produced in MW fields for 3 min only shows the highest phase purity and the largest surface area (BET) and porosity, along with a rather small crystallite size (below ~300 nm), demonstrating high methane and ethane adsorption capacity in the pressure range 1–30 atm.
Highlights
Natural gas is the cleanest fuel among fossil-based resources [1]
A series of HKUST-1 materials were synthesized in an ionic liquids (ILs) medium under solvoth mal conditions and under MW activation
A series of HKUST-1 materials were synthesized in an IL medium under solvothermal conditions and under MW activation
Summary
Natural gas is the cleanest fuel among fossil-based resources [1]. It consists mainly of methane (>90%) and other hydrocarbons (mostly ethane, up to 10%). It is mainly used as a fuel in industry and households, as well as in internal combustion engines. Methods for natural gas processing based on the cryoseparation techniques, which involve liquefaction of natural gas at high pressures and low temperatures (10–15 bar, 100 K), are used [3]. Gas adsorption on porous materials, allows one to perform separation at room temperature and relatively low pressures (usually 0.1–5 bar) [4]
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