Affiliation:
1. Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Advanced Catalysis Materials, College of Chemistry and Materials Science Zhejiang Normal University Jinhua China
2. School of Chemistry and Materials Science Jiangsu Normal University Xuzhou China
3. Van't Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences University of Amsterdam Amsterdam Netherlands
Abstract
AbstractThe efficient separation of CH4 from natural gas containing C2H6 and C3H8 impurities is an important topic. Previous work on the separation of CH4/C2H6/C3H8 mixtures often focuses on the C3H8/CH4 selectivity, inadvertently sidelining the critical importance of C2H6/CH4 selectivity. This oversight results in reduced CH₄ productivity and compromised separation efficiency, a phenomenon often termed as the “cask effect.” Herein, we fine‐tune the interrelationship between thermodynamics and kinetics, targeting enhanced CH4 production. A synergistic thermodynamic–kinetic C3H8/CH4 and C2H6/CH4 selectivity is achieved using dynamic breakthrough experiments, underpinned by the stable metal–organic framework TIFSIX‐Cu‐TPA. The CH4 productivity in TIFSIX‐Cu‐TPA is up to 5 mmol g−1, surpassing most of the popular materials. Detailed density functional theory and molecular dynamics computational insights reveal a counteractive thermodynamic–kinetic relationship, proving pivotal for the simultaneous breakthrough of C2H6 and C3H8 under optimal conditions. Moreover, precise adsorption sites of C2H6 and C3H8 are clearly determined through in situ single‐crystal structures.
Funder
National Natural Science Foundation of China
Subject
General Chemical Engineering,Environmental Engineering,Biotechnology