A microporous metal-organic framework assembled from an aromatic tetracarboxylate for H-2 purification

A NbO-type metal-organic framework UTSA-40 constructed from a novel aromatic tetracarboxylate has been synthesized and structurally characterized. With open metal sites, suitable pore spaces and a moderate BET surface area of 1630 m(2) g(-1) for the recognition of CO2 and CH4, the activated UTSA-40a has the potential for use in H-2 purification processes conducted in fixed bed adsorbers, with higher productivities and lower regeneration costs than those obtained with conventionally used NaX and LTA-5A zeolites when operating at higher pressure. Furthermore, its regeneration cost is also lower than that of the examined MOFs MgMOF-74 and Cu-TDPAT despite its lower productivity.