CO₂ and CH₄ Separation by Adsorption Using Cu-BTC Metal−Organic Framework

Molecular simulations have shown that the metal−organic framework Cu-BTC (Cu 3 (BTC) 2 ) is an interesting candidate for the separation of CO 2 by adsorption. In this work, the first experimental binary and ternary adsorption data of CO 2, CH 4, and CO on the Cu-BTC are reported. These data are analyzed and compared with coadsorption models that are built from pure component isotherm data. Cu-BTC has a CO 2 /CH 4 selectivity of ∼8 and a high delta loading (=difference between adsorption capacity under conditions of adsorption and desorption) and therefore appears to be a good compromise between zeolites, with high selectivity for CO 2, but low delta loadings, and activated carbons, with high delta loadings, but low selectivity, for pressure swing adsorption applications.