Shaping of porous metal–organic framework granules using mesoporous ρ-alumina as a binder

Abstract

The shaping of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) on a macroscopic level is a vibrant area in MOF research. For practical application of MOFs, the fine microcrystalline powder should be converted into a shaped body while preserving the powder's intrinsic properties. In this study, we prepared millimetre-scale spheres of MIL-100(Fe), MIL-101(Cr), UiO-66(Zr), and UiO-66(Zr)_NH₂ using the wet granulation method. The use of mesoporous ρ-alumina (MRA) as a binder resulted in well-shaped MOF bodies which retained their intrinsic properties after shaping. Furthermore, the performance of the MOF spheres was compared to that of compressed pellets in terms of NH₃ adsorption using a breakthrough test, and CO₂ and N₂ adsorption performance was compared using adsorption isotherms at 298 K between the powder and spheres of MOFs for future industrial applications.