Competitive adsorption and selectivity of benzene and water vapor on the microporous metal organic frameworks (HKUST-1)

Abstract Competitive adsorption and selectivity of benzene and water vapor were studied on the microporous metal organic frameworks (HKUST-1). The adsorption equilibrium and kinetics of pure component as well as binary mixtures of benzene and water vapor were systematically investigated on the HKUST-1. Their binary adsorption selectivity and permeation selectivity are predicted via the IAST method. Results showed that the equilibrium data of benzene and water vapor depicted the Langmuir–Freundlich and Dual Site Langmuir–Freundlich (DSLF) type adsorption isotherms, respectively. Benzene exhibited much higher isosteric heat and desorption activation energy than water vapor, indicating a stronger interaction with the HKUST-1. The adsorption selectivity of benzene/water on the HKUST-1 was of about ∼8.32 at 318 K and 1.0 mbar, and its diffusivity selectivity was about 17.6 at 298 K and 1.5 mbar, respectively. Breakthrough curves of benzene showed a remaining capacity of about 94.7% and 72.9% in the presence of 13 and 34 RH%. Thus, the HKUST-1 is more selective or preferential adsorption for benzene molecules in comparison to water molecules at high temperature and low pressure. Also, it shows the advantage of kinetic separation for VOCs and water vapor.