Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), are coordination polymers with a hybrid inorganic-organic framework comprising metal ions and organic ligands coordinated to the metal ions.

These materials are organized as mono-, bi- or tri-dimensional networks wherein the metal clusters are linked to each other by spacing ligands periodically. These materials have a crystalline structure and are generally porous.

In the present work, the research team has developed porous metal-organic frameworks for the separation of mixtures of molecules having different unsaturation degrees and / or a different number of unsaturations. One can cite olefin and paraffin mixtures. 

The separation of mixtures of compounds in the gaseous or liquid phase is a major industrial problem concerning, in particular, the chemical, petrochemical and/or pharmaceutical industrial sectors.

Finding an absorbent making it possible to replace this expensive method while satisfying the required criteria (selectivity, diffusivity, regeneration…) would constitute a major advance in this field.

Among the disadvantages of the processes already known, the following can be cited as examples:
prohibitive implementation costs

• lack of selectivity of the separation materials
• insufficient diffusivity of the species to be separated in the separation materials
• problems of lixiviation with the existing separation materials

Among compounds to be separated, there is a real need to develop systems making it possible to separate olefin/paraffin mixtures efficiently, as well as other mixtures of molecules having different unsaturation degrees and/or a different number of unsaturations.

The present invention aims at answering each of this need.

Development stage

Separation of propane and propylene as well as acetylene and ethylene has been sucessfully demonstrated on a laboratory scale

Pending patents

01904-01

Scope: metal-organic frameworks for separating hydrocarbons mixture
Priority application: french patent application FR0803245 filed on June 11, 2008 and entitled « Solide hybride cristallin poreux réductible pour la séparation de mélanges de molécules ayant des degrés et / ou un nombre d’insaturations différents »
Extensions in Europe, Japan, Canada and USA.

For further information, please contact us (Ref 1904-01)