Elemental Composition of Solvothermally Synthesized Zif-8 Studied by X-Ray Fluorescence Analysis

ZIF-8 prepared by a solvothermal route in methanol was studied by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis using the fundamental parameters (FP) method in scatter mode. Zinc was the dominant element (8.62 wt%). Ten other elements (Cl, Si, S, K, Ca, Ti, Fe, Ni, Zr and Ag) were found only at trace levels, about 0.15 wt% in total. The measured zinc content is roughly 3.3 times lower than the value calculated for Zn(C4H5N2)2 (28.73 wt%). Because C, H and N are not determined by XRF, the reason for this difference cannot be established from the XRF data alone, and CHN analysis is needed to close the mass balance.