A new metal–organic framework with potential for adsorptive separation of methane from carbon dioxide, acetylene, ethylene, and ethane established by simulated breakthrough experiments

A new three-dimensional microporous metal–organic framework, Cu2(MFDI) (ZJU-60, H4MFDI = 5,5′-(9,9-dimethyl-9H-fluorene-2,7-diyl)diisophthalic acid), was solvothermally synthesized. ZJU-60 features a three-dimensional structure with a rare sty-a type topology and has two different types of pore apertures. With open metal sites and suitable pore spaces, ZJU-60 can readily separate methane in nearly pure form from CO2 and C2-hydrocarbon quaternary gas mixtures at room temperature with high separation capacity and moderate selectivity. The separation feasibility has been further established by simulated breakthrough and pulse chromatographic experiments.