A Stable Interpenetrated Zn-MOF with Efficient Light Hydrocarbon Adsorption/Separation Performance

The design of MOFs with functionalized groups as well as suitable pore space plays a momentous part in gas adsorption and separation. Herein, a new Zn-MOF (Zn4(BTB-NH2)3·xsolvent, UPC-98, H3BTB-NH2 = 2′-amino-5′-(4-carboxyphenyl)-[1,1′:3′,1″-terphenyl]-4,4″-dicarboxylic acid) was synthesized successfully by an amino-functionalized ligand (H3BTB-NH2) for light hydrocarbon adsorption and separation application. UPC-98 with twofold interpenetrating structure retains relatively high thermal stability and acid–base stability, which can be stable in aqueous solutions (pH = 4–9) and air environment at 250 °C. Interestingly, UPC-98 with micropore of 4–5 A displays a high uptake of C3H8 (118.4 cm3·g–1) and C3H6 (120.5 cm3·g–1) at 273 K and exhibits excellent adsorption selectivity of C3/C1 and C2/C1. The effective separation performance for C2H2/C2H4 is confirmed via breakthrough experiments.