(519f) Size-Controllable MOF Composite Particles for Bio-Butanol Recovery By Adsorption: Formulation and Mass Transfer Resistances

Biobutanol is regarded as a promising substitute for fossil-based chemicals and fuels. It can be produced from renewable resources by the so-called ABE fermentation. Its separation from the aqueous mixture in which it is produced (i.e. fermentation broth) is very challenging. Adsorption has been identified as an efficient alternative for the traditional energy-intensive distillation technique. Among various porous materials, including zeolites, active carbons and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), we found that the ZIF-8 MOF material shows interesting properties giving perspectives for an economical and low energy-intensive production of biobutanol [1].

The formulation of the ZIF-8 MOF material into a resistant structure is a key aspect towards its implementation into an actual separation process. Therefore, resistant MOF composite beads were produced by combining polymers with ZIF-8 crystals under different conditions. The formulation method, which easily allows varying the particle size, will be presented. In addition, the adsorptive properties, studied under dynamic and static conditions in liquid and vapor phase, as well as the stability of the composite particles under chemical and mechanical stress will be discussed. Mass transfer resistances related to the formulation will be highlighted. Additional results obtained by various characterization techniques, such as argon and mercury porosimetry will also be presented. The results of these different experiments demonstrated that the formulation method allows to produce resistant ZIF-8 MOF composite particles with controllable size and with limited change in properties of the original material, which are important for the efficient adsorptive recovery of bio-butanol. The formulation method is, moreover, expected to be applicable to any other nanoporous material.

[1] Cousin Saint Remi, J., Remy, T., Van Hunskerken, V., Van de Perre, S., Duerinck, T., Maes, M., De Vos, D., Gobechiya, E., Kirschhock, C.E.A., Baron, G.V. and Denayer, J.F.M. Biobutanol Separation with the Metal-Organic Framework ZIF-8. ChemSusChem 4, 1074-1077 (2011).