Chemical Engineering Science, Vol.95, 65-72, 2013
Fabrication and separation performance evaluation of a metal-organic framework based microseparator device
A microseparator device containing a metal-organic framework (MOF) as functional adsorbent coating was fabricated and tested. Microchannels were milled into PEEK covered copper sheets and a thin coating of Cu-BTC (copper-benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylate) MOF was electrochemically synthesized on the exposed copper surface. These microseparator sheets were stacked inside a holder employing the PEEK layer as a gasket. Methanol and n-hexane vapors were successfully separated on the microdevice in breakthrough experiments. The breakthrough profiles of the microseparator were modeled using a linear driving force model and their rate constants (K-LDF) determined. A comparison to a packed bed was made. Sharp breakthrough profiles were found for the microseparator compared to the packed bed. (c) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.