CO₂ and CH₄ Separation by Adsorption Using Cu-BTC Metal−Organic Framework

Abstract

Molecular simulations have shown that the metal−organic framework Cu-BTC (Cu3(BTC)2) is an interesting candidate for the separation of CO2 by adsorption. In this work, the first experimental binary and ternary adsorption data of CO2, CH4, and CO on the Cu-BTC are reported. These data are analyzed and compared with coadsorption models that are built from pure component isotherm data. Cu-BTC has a CO2/CH4 selectivity of ∼8 and a high delta loading (=difference between adsorption capacity under conditions of adsorption and desorption) and therefore appears to be a good compromise between zeolites, with high selectivity for CO2, but low delta loadings, and activated carbons, with high delta loadings, but low selectivity, for pressure swing adsorption applications.