Microwave-assisted continuous flow synthesis of mesoporous metal-organic framework MIL-100 (Fe) and its application to Cu(I)-loaded adsorbent for CO/CO2 separation

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are typically synthesized in closed batch systems, which is not favorable for large scale production. Herein, we report a scalable MOF synthesis route based on a continuous flow tubular reactor equipped with microwave volumetric heating. The system enabled continuous crystallization of MIL-100(Fe) with a high space time yield of ~771.6 kg/m3/day under relatively mild conditions (temperature: 100–110 °C and time: 50 min). Ultimately, the MIL-100(Fe) was used as a support to prepare Cu(I)-modified π complexation adsorbents. The adsorbents exhibited preferred CO adsorption over CO2, and the adsorption performance (CO adsorption capacity and CO/CO2 selectivity) was comparable to, or even higher than most of the previously reported Cu(I)-modified π complexation adsorbents.