A Fluorinated Metal ‐ Organic Framework, FMOF ‐2, for Preferential Adsorption of Ethane over Ethylene

The preferential adsorption of ethane over ethylene would significantly simplify the overall ethane‐ethylene separation scheme for ethylene purification. Ethane‐selective adsorbents are still lacking compared to ethylene‐selective adsorbents. We discovered that a fluorinated Metal‐Organic Framework, FMOF‐2, exhibits preferential adsorption of ethane over ethylene at pressures in the range of 40 kPa with ideal adsorbed solution theory selectivity of 3.3. The material was characterized by X‐ray diffraction, argon physisorption at 87 K, thermal gravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscope (SEM) image, and X‐ray photoelectron analysis. Exposed fluorine functional groups on a porous material produced via a hydrogen‐bonding type electrostatic attraction are thought to serve as ethane adsorption sites.