Membrane adsorbers with ultrahigh metal-organic framework loading for high flux separations

作者：Hang Wang, Shuang Zhao, Yi Liu, Ru‐Xin Yao, Xiaoqi Wang, Yuhua Cao, Dou Ma, Mingchu Zou, Anyuan Cao, Xiao Feng, Bo Wang · 发表于：Nature Communications · 年份：2019 · DOI：10.1038/s41467-019-12114-8 · 被引用次数：299 · 研究领域：Membrane Separation Technologies、Metal-Organic Frameworks: Synthesis and Applications、Membrane Separation and Gas Transport

Abstract Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with high porosity and designable functionality make it possible to access the merits of high permeability and selectivity. However, scalable fabrication methods to produce mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) with good flexibility and ultrahigh MOF loading are urgently needed yet largely unmet. Herein, we report a thermally induced phase separation-hot pressing (TIPS-HoP) strategy to roll-to-roll produce 10 distinct MOF-membranes (loadings up to 86 wt%). Ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene interweaving the MOF particles contributes to their mechanical strength. Rejections (99%) of organic dyes with a water flux of 125.7 L m –2 h –1 bar –1 under cross-flow filtration mode. The micron-sized channels between the MOF particles translate into fast water permeation, while the porous MOFs reject solutes through rapid adsorption. This strategy paves ways for developing high-performance membrane adsorbers for crucial separation processes. As a proof-of-concept, the abilities of the membrane adsorbers for separating racemates and proteins have been demonstrated.