Adsorption of volatile organic compounds by metal-organic frameworks MOF-177

Adsorption of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) including acetone, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, o-xylene, m-xylene, p-xylene and ethenylbenzene in air on a synthesized MOF-177 and the influence of humidity on adsorption were examined at 25 ± 0.5 °C. Larger adsorption capacity of VOCs on MOF-177 was observed even at relatively high humidity, suggesting that the porous MOF-177 material could be a potential adsorbent for sorptive removal of the unwanted VOCs from air due to its large surface area and pore volume. Adsorption of VOCs on MOF-177 is captured by a pore filling mechanism, showing a negative linear relationship between the volume adsorption capacity and the molecular cross-sectional area of VOCs. Adsorption of VOCs on MOF-177 in humid air will be suppressed by the competition of water molecules and the decomposition of MOF-177 framework structure with water. It was suggested that MOF-177 should not be exposed a long time to air at relatively high RH and pre-drying of gas is required to avoid the competition suppress of water on adsorption and the decomposition of MOF-177 framework structure in the applications of MOF-177 as adsorbents.