A hybrid bio-metal organic framework (MOF), a bio-MOF-1 membrane supported on porous stainless steel tubes, has been made by Joseph Bohrman and Moises Carreon, University of Louisville, Kentucky, USA. The membrane can be used to separate useful methane from the carbon dioxide present in flue and exhaust gases and natural gas supplies.
The separation occurs even if the carbon dioxide concentration is the same as that of the methane in the gas mixture. This offers a significant advantage over other systems given that carbon dioxide can be as high as 75 % in flue and natural gas sources.
The team points out that the selectivity is greater than one for carbon dioxide over methane, which suggests that the process is promoted by competitive adsorption.
- Synthesis and CO2/CH4 separation performance of Bio-MOF-1 Membranes,
J. A. Bohrman, M. A. Carreon,
Chem. Commun. 2012.
DOI: 10.1039/C2CC31821K
