| dc.description.abstract | This work aims to synthesize and characterize the Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs): MIP-202, MOF-801, and a cerium-based version of the MIP-202, and evaluate their potential for use in carbon capturing by the use of adsorption. An outsourced Zeolite-13X molecular sieve was also tested alongside the MOF samples, to compare the results. Stability, crystallinity, and composition were concluded with PXRD, TGA, SEM, and EDS measurements, which were determined on all samples and gave expected and satisfactory results. The EDS results of the MIP-202 and MOF-801 samples revealed a substantial chlorine content in the MOFs, which came from the ZrCl4 salt they were synthesized from. An attempt to remove these and other traces of excess linkers was made by making new samples by washing the MOFs with different solutions, including methanol and acetic acid. The washed samples were tested alongside the untreated MOF and Zeolite-13X samples. Only the MOF-801 samples and the Zeolite-13X gave satisfactory sorption results, as the MIP-202 had collapsed after 60°C degassing, and the Ce-MIP-202 did not adsorb considerably to be further analyzed. Based on BET calculations, the best MOF-801 had a specific surface area of 936.5 m2g-1, with a total pore volume of 0.4683 cm3g-1. The Zeolite-13X specific surface area was calculated to be 577.7 m2g-1, with a total pore volume of 0.2963 cm3g-1. Both these sample classes demonstrated high selectivity between CO2 and N2, but where the Zeolite expressed a much steeper CO2 adsorption isotherm, which could be disadvantageous when desorbing in industry. | |
