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A flexible metal-organic framework constructed from a flexible linker is shown to possess the capability of separating mixtures of polar compounds (propanol isomers) by exploiting the differences in the saturation capacities of the constituents. Transient breakthrough simulations show that these sorption-based separations are in favor of the component with higher saturation capacity.

The magnetic susceptibility of synthesized magnetite (Fe3O4) microspheres was found to decline after the growth of a metal–organic framework (MOF) shell on the magnetite core. Detailed structural analysis of the core–shell particles using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, atom probe tomography, and57Fe–Mossbauer spectroscopy suggests that the distribution of MOF precursors inside the magnetic core resulted in the oxidation of the iron oxide core.

Layered aluminosilicates play a dominant role in the mechanical and gas storage properties of the subsurface, are used in diverse industrial applications, and serve as model materials for understanding solvent-ion-support systems. Although expansion in the presence of H

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have shown promising behavior for adsorption cooling applications. Using organic ligands with 1, 2, and 3 phenylene rings, we construct moisture-stable Ni-MOF-74 members with adjustable pore apertures, which exhibit excellent sorption capabilities toward water and fluorocarbon R134a. To our knowledge, this is the first report of adsorption isotherms of fluorocarbon R134a in MOFs. The adsorption patterns for these materials differ significantly and are attributed to variances in their hydrophobic/hydrophilic pore character associated with differences in pore size.

A detailed mechanism, based on density functional theory calculations and simulation, is presented outlining the formation of the secondary building unit (SBU) of MIL-101, a chromium terephthalate metal organic framework (MOF). Formation of the metal core and of the SBU is key to MOF nucleation, the rate-limiting step in the synthesis process of many MOFs. A series of reactions that lead to the formation of the SBU of MIL-101 is proposed in this work. The highest barrier (∼35 kcal/mol) involves the formation of a dimetal-linker intermediate and high to low spin transition as a third Cr-linker moiety joins to form a three metal-linker group joined by a central oxygen. The terephthalate linkers play an important, key mechanistic role with the carboxylates first joining chromium atoms prior to the formation of bridging oxygens. Subsequent to metal core formation, stepwise linker addition reactions generate different assembly pathways due to structural isomers that are limited by the removal of water molecule...

In this review, we describe recent efforts to systematically study nano-structured metal organic frameworks (MOFs), also known as metal organic heat carriers, with particular emphasis on their appl...

Co-sequestered CO 2 with H 2 S impurities could affect geologic storage, causing changes in pH and oxidation state that affect mineral dissolution and precipitation reactions and the mobility of metals present in the reservoir rocks. We have developed a variable component, non-isothermal simulator, STOMP-COMP (water, multiple components, salt and energy), which simulates multiphase flow gas mixtures in deep saline reservoirs, and the resulting reactions with reservoir minerals. We use this simulator to model the co-injection of CO 2 and H 2 S into brecciated basalt flow top. A 1000 metric ton injection of these supercritical fluids, with 99% CO 2 and 1% H 2 S, is sequestered rapidly by solubility and mineral trapping. CO 2 is trapped mainly as calcite within a few decades and H 2 S is trapped as pyrite within several years.

The proliferation of commercial development in U.S. gas-bearing shales helped to drive a twelve-fold increase in domestic gas production between 2000 and 2010, and the nation's gas production rates continue to grow. While shales have long been regarded as a desirable caprock for CCS operations because of their low permeability and porosity, there is increasing interest in the feasibility of injecting CO2 into shales to enhance methane recovery and augment CO2 storage. Laboratory work published in recent years observes that shales with adsorbed methane appear to exhibit a stronger affinity for CO2 adsorption, offering the potential to drive additional CH4 recovery beyond primary production and perhaps the potential to store a larger volume of CO2 than the volume of methane displaced. Recent research by the authors on the revenues associated with CO2-enhanced gas recovery (CO2-EGR) in gas-bearing shales estimates that, based on a range of EGR response rates, the average revenue per ton of CO2 for projects managed over both EGR and subsequent storage-only phases could range from $0.50 to $18/tCO2. While perhaps not as profitable as EOR, for regions where lower-cost storage options may be limited, shales could represent another “early opportunity” storage option if proven feasible for reliable EGR and CO2 storage. Significant storage potential exists in gas shales, with theoretical CO2 storage resources estimated at approximately 30-50 GtCO2. However, an analysis of the comprehensive cost competitiveness of these various options is necessary to understand the degree to which they might meaningfully impact U.S. CCS deployment or costs. This preliminary analysis shows that the degree to which EGR-based CO2 storage could play a role in commercial-scale deployment is heavily dependent upon the offsetting revenues associated with incremental recovery; modeling the low revenue case resulted in only five shale-based projects, while under the high revenue case, shales accounted for as much as 20 percent of total U.S. storage in the first 20 years of deployment. Interestingly, even in this highest revenue case, there appear to be no negative-cost projects that would be profitable in a no-policy environment as modeled under the assumptions employed. While this reflects a very first look at the potential for shales, it is clear that more laboratory and experimental work are needed to reduce uncertainty in key variables and begin to differentiate and identify high-potential shales for early pilot study.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs); also known as porous coordination polymers (PCP) are a class of porous crystalline materials constructed by connecting metal clusters via organic linkers. The possibility of functionalization leads to virtually infinite MOF designs using generic modular methods. Functionalized MOFs can exhibit interesting physical and chemical properties including accelerated adsorption kinetics and catalysis. Although there are discrete methods to synthesize well-defined nanoscale MOFs, rapid and flexible methods are not available for continuous, one-pot synthesis and post-synthetic modification (functionalization) of MOFs. Here, we show a continuous, scalable nanodroplet-based microfluidic route that not only facilitates the synthesis of MOFs at a nanoscale, but also offers flexibility for direct functionalization with desired functional groups (e.g., -COCH3, fluorescein isothiocyanate; FITC). In addition, the presented route of continuous manufacturing of functionalized nanosized MOFs takes significantly less time compared to state-of-the-art batch methods currently available (1 hr vs. several days). We envisage our approach to be a breakthrough method for synthesizing complex functionalized nanomaterials (metal, metal oxides, quantum dots and MOFs) that are not accessible by direct batch processing and expand the range of a new class of functionalized MOF-based functional nanomaterials.

Vapor-assisted dry-gel synthesis of the metal-organic framework-74 (MOF-74) structure, specifically Ni-MOF-74 produced from synthetic precursors using an organic-water hybrid solvent system, showed a very high yield (>90% with respect to 2,5-dihydroxyterepthalic acid) and enhanced performance. The Ni-MOF-74 obtained showed improved sorption characteristics towards CO2 and the refrigerant fluorocarbon dichlorodifluoromethane. Unlike conventional synthesis, which takes 72 hours using the tetrahydrofuran-water system, this kinetic study showed that Ni-MOF-74 forms within 12 hours under dry-gel conditions with similar performance characteristics and exhibits its best performance characteristics even after 24 hours of heating. In the dry-gel conversion method, the physical separation of the solvent and precursor mixture allows for recycling of the solvent. We demonstrated efficient solvent recycling (up to three times) that resulted in significant cost benefits. The scaled-up manufacturing cost of Ni-MOF-74 synthesized via our dry-gel method is 45% of conventional synthesis cost. Thus, for bulk production of the MOFs, the proposed vapor-assisted, dry-gel method is efficient, simple and inexpensive when compared to the conventional synthesis method.

Metal-organic heat carriers (MOHCs) are recently developed nanofluids containing metal-organic framework (MOF) nanoparticles dispersed in various base fluids including refrigerants (R245Fa) and methanol. Here, we report the synthesis and characterization of MOHCs containing nanoMIL-101(Cr) and graphene oxide (GO) in an effort to improve the thermo-physical properties of various base fluids. MOHC/GO nanocomposites showed enhanced surface area, porosity and nitrogen adsorption compared with the intrinsic nanoMIL-101(Cr) and the properties depended on the amount of GO added. MIL-101(Cr)/GO in methanol exhibited a significant increase in the thermal conductivity (by approximately 50%) relative to that of the intrinsic nanoMIL-101(Cr) in methanol. The thermal conductivity of the base fluid (methanol) was increased by about 20%. The increase in the thermal conductivity of nanoMIL-101(Cr) MOHCs due to GO functionalization is explained using a classical Maxwell model.

Molecular dynamics simulations were carried out to systematically study solvation and nanoparticle–particle interactions in n -hexane, water and methanol solvents. The dynamics of the n -hexane molecules was significantly influenced by the solvated nanoparticles. Water and methanol show significant structural signatures binding to the metal coordination sites of the nanoparticles while liquid hexane does not. The computed free energy profiles illustrate that the associations between nanoparticles in solution are stable and depend on the relative orientation of them. Also, these profiles indicate a low interaction potential between nanoparticles in methanol, confirming experimental observations of inherent nanofluid stability without need for added surfactant.

We present a combined experimental and theoretical study investigating the reactivity between select and morphologically important surfaces of carbonate minerals with supercritical CO2 and co-existing H2O and SO2. Trace amounts of SO2 cause formation of CaSO3 in the form of hannebachite in the initial stages of SO2 adsorption and transformation. Atomistic simulations based on density functional theory of these initial steps indicate accumulation of water over the magnesium sites, and suggest depletion of Mg over the Ca from the mineral surface. Under co-sequestration conditions with wet scCO2, water is not likely to cause carbonate dissolution of a perfect surface, however, it stabilizes pre-existing low coordination oxygen atoms by creating surface hydroxyl groups on the CO2-defect sites. Formation of bisulfites (surface-SO2OH) occurs with a low barrier of ca 0.5 eV, estimated by the climbing image nudged elastic band method (CI-NEB). Estimates of the effective transformation rates are in the range of 4.0 × 101 to 4.0 × 104 s−1. The sulfur-containing species bind preferentially on surface calcium atoms creating the first nucleation sites. Molecular dynamics simulations also show dynamic tautomerization of the adsorbed bifulfites (s-SO2OH ⇌ s-S(H)O3), which is likely to slow down further oxidation to sulfates in less oxidative environments. From the same simulations, we extract local geometries of the resulting CaSO3H···OH species, similar to the crystallographic structure of hannebachite. Collectively, the experimental results and ab initio molecular dynamics simulations suggest potential of carbonate reservoirs for in situ chemical scrubbing of CO2 captured from fossil fuel sources, which could be stored permanently for sequestration purposes or extracted and utilized for enhanced oil recovery (EOR).

The uptake of (18)O by scC(16)O(2) in mixtures containing liquid H(2)(18)O was followed with Raman spectroscopy using a specially designed high-pressure optical cell. Characteristic bands from the C(16)O(18)O and C(18)O(2) molecules were identified in the supercritical phase and measured in the spectra as a function of time after introducing the liquid H(2)(18)O into the scC(16)O(2). Temporal dependence indicated the process was diffusion-limited in our cell for both C(16)O(18)O and C(18)O(2). The ratio of concentrations of the (18)O-labeled CO(2) molecules, C(18)O(2)/C(16)O(18)O, was much higher than a random distribution of the isotopes for the system expected at equilibrium. The results are consistent with previous studies showing both rapid kinetics for oxygen exchange in aqueous solutions and the role of CO(2) transport at liquid water interfaces. More importantly, they demonstrate the potential for using Raman spectroscopy with (18)O isotopic labeling in scCO(2) reaction studies with the recently determined frequency and intensity characteristics of the Fermi dyad peaks from (18)O-containing CO(2) molecules.

The framework expansion and contraction upon carbon dioxide uptake was studied in a partially fluorinated metal-organic framework, FMOF-2. The results show framework expansion and contraction (breathing) as a function of pressure and temperature. Even at temperatures as low as -30 °C, two phase transitions seem to take place with a pressure step (corresponding to the second transition) that is greatly dependent on temperature. This behavior is described by the model proposed by Coudert and co-workers showing that the material seems to undergo two phase transitions that are temperature-dependent. The isosteric heats of adsorption at high pressures show a minimum that is concurrent with the region of CO(2) loadings where the second pressure step occurs. It was deduced that these lower enthalpy values are a consequence of the energy cost related to the expansion or reopening of the framework. Lastly, the large and reversible breathing behavior may be a product of the combination of the high elasticity of zinc (II) coordination and the apparent high flexibility of the V-shaped organic building block.

It is important to capture carbon dioxide from flue gas, which is considered one of to be the main cause of global warming. CO2/N2 separation by novel adsorbents is a promising method for reducing ...

Enhancing the efficiency of the Rankine cycle, which is utilized for multiple renewable energy sources, requires the use of a working fluid with a high latent heat of vaporization. To further enhance its latent heat, a working fluid can be placed in a metal organic heat carrier (MOHC) with a high heat of adsorption. One such material is Ni\DOBDC, in which linear alkanes have a higher heat of adsorption than cyclic alkanes. We carried out molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the structural, diffusive, and adsorption properties of n-hexane and cyclohexane in Ni\DOBDC. The strong binding for both n-hexane and cyclohexane with Ni\DOBDC is attributed to the increase of the heat of adsorption observed in experiments. Our structural results indicate the organic linkers in Ni\DOBDC are the primary binding sites for both n-hexane and cyclohexane molecules. However, at all temperatures and loadings examined in present work, n-hexane clearly showed stronger binding with Ni\DOBDC than cyclohexane. This was found to be the result of the ability of n-hexane to reconfigure its structure to a greater degree than cyclohexane to gain more contacts between adsorbates and adsorbents. The geometry and flexibility of guest molecules were also related to their diffusivity in Ni\DOBDC, with higher diffusion for flexible molecules. Because of the large pore sizes in Ni\DOBDC, energetic effects were the dominant force for alkane adsorption and selectivity.

The adsorption and diffusivity of methane, ethane, n-butane, n-hexane and cyclohexane in a metal organic framework (MOF) with the organic linker tetrakis[4-(carboxyphenyl)oxamethyl]methane, the metal salt, Zn2+, and an organic pillar, 4,4′-bipyridin was studied using molecular dynamics simulations. For the n-alkanes, the longer the chain, the lower the free energy of adsorption, which was attributed to a greater number of contacts between the alkane and MOF. Cyclohexane had a slightly higher adsorption free energy than n-hexane. Furthermore, for cyclo- and n-hexane, there were no significant differences in adsorption free energies between systems with low to moderate loadings. The diffusivity of the n-alkanes was found to strongly depend on chain length with slower diffusion for longer chains. Cyclohexane had no effective diffusion, suggesting the selectivity the MOF towards n-hexane over cyclohexane results from kinetics instead of thermodynamics.

Solvothermal assembly of a semirigid tetrahedral carboxylate ligand tetrakis[4-(carboxyphenyl)oxamethyl]methane acid (H4X) with Cd(II) ion in different solvent systems yields three novel metal−organic framework isomers (1−3) based on different secondary building units (SBUs). Although all three frameworks have the same dia (diamondoid) topology, complexes 1 and 3 are noncentrosymmetric and complex 2 is centrosymmetric. One of the networks (1) shows cross-linked 3-fold interpenetration of the single dia net and exhibits permanent porosities, as confirmed by Brunauer−Emmett−Teller (BET) and selective CO2 adsorption.

Quantum-mechanical methods were used to evaluate mechanisms for possible structural incorporation of Tc species into the model iron oxide, hematite (alpha-Fe2O3). Using periodic supercell models, energies for charge-neutral incorporation of Tc4+ or TcO4- ions were calculated using either a Tc4+/Fe2+ substitution scheme on the metal sublattice, or by insertion of TcO4- as an interstitial species within a hypothetical vacancy cluster. Although pertechnetate incorporation is found to be invariably unfavorable, incorporation of small amounts of Tc4+ (at least 2.6 wt %) is energetically feasible. Energy minimized bond distances around this impurity are provided to aid in future spectroscopic identification of these impurity species. The calculations also show that Fe2+ and Tc4+ prefer to cluster in the hematite lattice, attributed to less net Coulombic repulsion relative to that of Fe3+-Fe3+. These modeling predictions are generally consistent with observed selective association of Tc with iron oxide under reducing conditions, and in residual waste solids from underground storage tanks at the U.S. Department of Energy Hanford Site (Washington, U.S.). Here, even though relatively high pH and oxidizing conditions are dominant, Tc incorporation into iron oxides and (oxy)hydroxides is prospectively enabled by prior reduction of TcO4- to Tc4+ via interaction with radiolytic species.

Adsorption isotherms of pure gases present in flue gas including CO(2), N(2), SO(2), NO, H(2)S, and water were studied using prussian blues of chemical formula M(3)[Co(CN)(6)](2).nH(2)O (M = Co, Zn) using an HPVA-100 volumetric gas analyzer and other spectroscopic methods. All the samples were characterized, and the microporous nature of the samples was studied using the BET isotherm. These materials adsorbed 8-10 wt % of CO(2) at room temperature and 1 bar of pressure with heats of adsorption ranging from 200 to 300 Btu/lb of CO(2), which is lower than monoethanolamine (750 Btu/lb of CO(2)) at the same mass loading. At high pressures (30 bar and 298 K), these materials adsorbed approximately 20-30 wt % of CO(2), which corresponds to 3 to 5 molecules of CO(2) per formula unit. Similar gas adsorption isotherms for SO(2), H(2)S, and NO were collected using a specially constructed volumetric gas analyzer. At close to 1 bar of equilibrium pressure, these materials sorb around 2.5, 2.7, and 1.2 mmol/g of SO(2), H(2)S, and NO. In particular, the uptake of SO(2) and H(2)S in Co(3)[Co(CN)(6)](2) is quite significant since it sorbs around 10 and 4.5 wt % at 0.1 bar of pressure. The stability of prussian blues before and after trace gases was studied using a powder X-ray diffraction instrument, which confirms these materials do not decompose after exposure to trace gases.

Increasing attention is being focused on the rapid rise of CO2 levels in the atmosphere, which many believe to be the major contributing factor to global climate change. Sequestering CO2 in deep geological formations has been proposed as a long-term solution to help stabilize CO2 levels. However, before such technology can be developed and implemented, a basic understanding of H2O–CO2 systems and the chemical interactions of these fluids with the host formation must be obtained. Important issues concerning mineral stability, reaction rates, and carbonate formation are all controlled or at least significantly impacted by the kinetics of rock–water reactions in mildly acidic, CO2-saturated solutions. Basalt has recently been identified as a potentially important host formation for geological sequestration. Dissolution kinetics of the Columbia River Basalt (CRB) were measured for a range of temperatures (25–90 °C) under mildly acidic to neutral pH conditions using the single-pass flow-through test method. Under anaerobic conditions, the normalized dissolution rates for CRB decrease with increasing pH (3 ⩽ pH ⩽ 7) with a slope, η, of −0.15 ± 0.01. Activation energy, Ea, has been estimated at 32.0 ± 2.4 kJ mol−1. Dissolution kinetics measurements like these are essential for modeling the rate at which CO2-saturated fluids react with basalt and ultimately drive conversion rates to carbonate minerals in situ.

Spin-polarized density functional theory (DFT) calculations and periodic slab models were used to study the reactive pathways leading to corrosion products on the low-index (100) surface of iron. We determined the binding energies of CO2 and the barrier to decomposition of adsorbed CO2 to O + CO, as well as to the formation of adsorbed CO32− and H2CO3 on the Fe(100) surface. The barriers of these pathways were determined with nudged elastic band (NEB) calculations. Short trajectories with DFT-based dynamics were employed to identify the most important species. These simulations (up to 0.5 ML coverage) show that CO2 is spontaneously activated and can bind with two or all three atoms assuming bent configurations strongly reminiscent of the radical CO2−. This spontaneous activation of CO2 is possible through charge rearrangement of the slab density. The CO2 decomposition to O + CO has a barrier of 5.0 kcal/mol. The subsequent formation of CO32− by reaction with an incoming CO2 is strongly favored thermodynam...

Single-pass flow-through tests were conducted to determine the pH (7–12) and temperature (23–90 °C) dependence of kinetic rate law parameters; ko, η, and Ea, for the dissolution of glass in aqueous solution. Experiments were performed with three prototypic nuclear waste glasses that span a wide compositional range, which covers, with high probability, the expected processing composition range for candidate immobilized low-activity waste (ILAW) glasses. Comparison of the B to Na release rates for one glass was incongruent at 23 and 40 °C, and pH (23 °C) = 7.0 and 8.0, suggesting two distinct mechanisms are responsible for the Na+ release, namely Na+–H+ ion-exchange and matrix dissolution. Matrix dissolution became the dominant dissolution mechanism for all glasses at the forward rate and pH values greater than 9.0 as evident by the congruent release of Al, B, Na and Si to solution. By combining the results collected for each ILAW glass at pH values greater than 9.0, pH and temperature-dependent rate law parameters were determined for Al, B, Na and Si release. A comparison of the pH power-law coefficient for Al, B, Na and Si at each temperature suggest that η does not depend on temperature within experimental error and suggests the release of these elements into solution is controlled by the same dissolution mechanism at the forward rate of reaction. The activation energies (Ea), based on B release, range from 52 ± 4 to 56 ± 6 kJ/mol which suggest that dissolution is a surface-controlled reaction mechanism. The data presented in this manuscript suggest that for these three ILAW glasses the chemical durability for each glass is similar under these test conditions. A lack of compositional dependence on the forward dissolution rate is observed even though there is as much as a 39 kJ/mol difference in the free energy of hydration (ΔGhyd) among the borosilicate waste glasses tested. This similarity in the forward dissolution rate despite the large ΔGhyd difference is almost certainly because these glasses have similar, if not identical, polymerization states. This is evident from the almost identical 29Si chemical shifts for each of these glasses. The polymerization state is an indication of the number of framework SiO4 linkages contained in the glass network. In general, the greater the number of framework SiO4 linkages the more durable the glass. Finally, in agreement with previous work, these results suggest breakage of the Si–O bond is the rate-determining dissolution mechanism under alkaline conditions [pH (23 °C) > 9.0] far from saturation with respect to an alteration phase or phases.

The dissolution kinetics of five chemically complex and five chemically simple sodium silicate glass compositions (Na–Si±Al±B) were determined over a range of solution saturation values by varying the flow-through rates (1–100 mL/d) in a dynamic single-pass flow-through (SPFT) apparatus. The chemically complex borosilicate glasses are representative of prospective hosts for radioactive waste disposal and are characterized by relatively high molar Si/(Si + Al) and Na/(Al + B) ratios (>0.7 and >1.0, respectively). Analysis by X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) indicates that the fraction of ivB to iiiB (N4) varies from 0.66 to 0.70. Despite large differences in bulk chemistry, values of δ29Si peak shift determined by MAS-NMR varies only by about 7 ppm (δ29Si = −94 to −87 ppm), indicating small differences in polymerization state for the glasses. Forward rates of reaction measured in dynamic experiments converge (average log10 rate [40 °C, pH 9] = −1.87 ± 0.79 [g/(m2 d)]) at high values of flow-rate (q) to sample surface area (S). Dissolution rates are independent of total Free Energy of Hydration (FEH) and this model appears to overestimate the impact of excess Na on chemical durability. For borosilicate glass compositions in which molar Na > Al + B, further addition of Na appears to stabilize the glass structure with respect to hydrolysis and dissolution. Compared to other borosilicate and aluminosilicate glasses, the glass specimens from this study dissolve at nearly the same rate (0–∼56×) as the more polymerized glasses, such as vitreous reedmergnerite (NaBSi3O8), albite, and silica. Dissolution of glass follows the order: boroaluminosilicate glass > vitreous reedmergnerite > vitreous albite > silica glass, which is roughly the same order of increasingly negative 29Si chemical shifts. The chemical shift of 29Si is a measure of the extent of bond overlap between Si and O and correlates with the forward rate of reaction. Thus, dissolution appears to be rate-limited by rupture of the Si–O bond, which is consistent with the tenants of Transition State Theory (TST). Therefore, dissolution at far from equilibrium conditions is dependent upon the speed of the rate-controlling elementary reaction and not on the sum of the free energies of hydration of the constituents of boroaluminosilicate glass.

The dynamics of the guest molecules CO2 and CH4 in p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene (TBC4) motion were studied from 100 K to 400 K using molecular simulation techniques. The rattling motion of the CH4 guest molecules, characterized by velocity autocorrelation functions, exhibit an increase in the Einstein frequency with increasing temperature. This has been observed experimentally and in simulations for some rare gas clathrate systems. The Einstein frequency for the CH4 molecule shows an increase from 75 cm−1 at 100 K to 91 cm−1 at 400 K. The frequency corresponding to the CO2 rattling motion exhibits a single peak and less temperature dependence going from 76 cm−1 at 100 K to 72 cm−1 at 400 K. The rotational spectra for CO2 exhibit two peaks at 100 K with the higher frequency peak shifting to lower frequency with increasing temperature. The computed rotational Einstein frequencies go from 86 cm−1 at 100 K to 71 cm−1 at 400 K for CO2. The temperature dependent Gibbs absorption free energies of the guest molecules CO2 and CH4 in TBC4 have also been studied at 1 bar using thermodynamic integration from 10 K to 400 K. As expected, the simulated absorption free energy for CO2 is greater at all temperatures than for CH4. At 10 K, the simulated values of −11.4 kcal/mol and −8.4 kcal/mol for CO2 and CH4, respectively, while at 300 K the values are −5.4 kcal/mol and −4.4 kcal/mol.

A redox-active metal-organic composite material shows improved and selective O2 adsorption over N2 with respect to individual components (MIL-101 and ferrocene). The O2 sensitivity of the composite material arises due to the formation of maghemite nanoparticles with the pore of the metal-organic framework material.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have recently attracted enormous interest over the past few years due to their potential applications in energy storage and gas separation. However, there have been few reports on MOFs for adsorption cooling applications. Adsorption cooling technology is an established alternative to mechanical vapor compression refrigeration systems. Adsorption cooling is an excellent alternative in industrial environments where waste heat is available. Applications also include hybrid systems, refrigeration, powerplant dry cooling, cryogenics, vehicular systems and building HVAC. Adsorption based cooling and refrigeration systems have several advantages including few moving parts and negligible power consumption. Key disadvantages include large thermal mass, bulkiness, complex controls, and low COP (0.2–0.5). We explored the use of metal organic frameworks that have very high mass loading and relatively low heats of adsorption, with certain combinations of refrigerants to demonstrate a new type of highly efficient adsorption chiller. An adsorption chiller based on MOFs suggests that a thermally-driven COP>1 may be possible with these materials, which would represent a fundamental breakthrough in performance of adsorption chiller technology. Computational fluid dynamics combined with a system level lumped-parameter model have been used to project size and performance for chillers with a cooling capacity ranging from a few kW to several thousand kW. In addition, a cost model has been developed to project manufactured cost of entire systems. These systems rely on stacked micro/mini-scale architectures to enhance heat and mass transfer. Presented herein are computational and experimental results for hydrophyilic MOFs, fluorophilic MOFs and also flourophilic Covalent-organic frameworks (COFs).Copyright © 2015 by ASME

Continental flood basalts are attractive formations for geologic sequestration of carbon dioxide because of their reactive divalent-cation containing silicates, such as forsterite (Mg2SiO4), suitable for long-term trapping of CO2 mineralized as metal carbonates. The goal of this study was to investigate at a molecular level the carbonation products formed during the reaction of forsterite with supercritical CO2 (scCO2) as a function of the concentration of H2O adsorbed to the forsterite surface. Experiments were performed at 50 °C and 90 bar using an in situ IR titration capability, and postreaction samples were examined by ex situ techniques, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), focused ion beam transmission electron microscopy (FIB-TEM), thermal gravimetric analysis mass spectrometry (TGA-MS), and magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (MAS NMR). Carbonation products and reaction extents varied greatly with adsorbed H2O. We show for the first time evidence of Mg-carbonate surface complexation under wet scCO2 conditions. Carbonate is found to be coordinated to Mg at the forsterite surface in a predominately bidentate fashion at adsorbed H2O concentrations below 27 μmol/m(2). Above this concentration and up to 76 μmol/m(2), monodentate coordinated complexes become dominant. Beyond a threshold adsorbed H2O concentration of 76 μmol/m(2), crystalline carbonates continuously precipitate as magnesite, and the particles that form are hundreds of times larger than the estimated thicknesses of the adsorbed water films of about 7 to 15 Å. At an applied level, these results suggest that mineral carbonation in scCO2 dominated fluids near the wellbore and adjacent to caprocks will be insignificant and limited to surface complexation, unless adsorbed H2O concentrations are high enough to promote crystalline carbonate formation. At a fundamental level, the surface complexes and their dependence on adsorbed H2O concentration give insights regarding forsterite dissolution processes and magnesite nucleation and growth.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have proved to be very attractive for applications including gas storage, separation, sensing and catalysis. In particular, CO(2) separation from flue gas in post-combustion processes is one of the main focuses of research among the scientific community. One of the major issues that are preventing the successful commercialization of these novel materials is their high affinity towards water that not only compromises gas sorption capacity but also the chemical stability. In this paper, we demonstrate a novel post-synthesis modification approach to modify MOFs towards increasing hydrophobic behaviour and chemical stability against moisture without compromising CO(2) sorption capacity. Our approach consists of incorporating hydrophobic moieties on the external surface of the MOFs via physical adsorption. The rationale behind this concept is to increase the surface hydrophobicity in the porous materials without the need of introducing bulky functionalities inside the pore which compromises the sorption capacity toward other gases. We herein report preliminary results on routinely studied MOF materials [MIL-101(Cr) and NiDOBDC] demonstrating that the polymer-modified MOFs retain CO(2) sorption capacity while reducing the water adsorption up to three times, with respect to the un-modified materials, via an equilibrium effect. Furthermore, the water stability of the polymer-functionalized MOFs is significantly higher than the water stability of the bare material. Molecular dynamic simulations demonstrated that this equilibrium effect implies a fundamental and permanent change in the water sorption capacity of MOFs. This approach can also be employed to render moisture stability and selectivity to MOFs that find applications in gas separations, catalysis and sensing where water plays a critical role in compromising MOF performance and recyclability.

Na8(AlSiO4)6(ReO4)2 sodalite was synthesized using a hydrothermal method and its crystal structure was determined from Rietveld refinement of experimental X-ray powder diffraction data. The refinement showed that this compound adopts the cubic sodalite structure (space group P 4 ¯ 3 n , #218) with a = 9.1528 (1) A. Raman spectroscopic measurements confirm the presence of tetrahedral ReO 4 - groups. Broadening of the asymmetric stretching and bending vibrational modes suggests the tetrahedra are slightly distorted from ideal Td symmetry in the sodalite lattice. MAS NMR of 29Si and 27Al nuclei showed single intense peaks at δiso = −92.4 ppm and δiso = 57.5 ppm, respectively, confirming the alternating Si, Al tetrahedral ordering in sodalite deduced from the structural data. Chemical shifts for 29Si and 27Al calculated using correlative structural parameters (56.6 ± 0.8 ppm and −92.3 ± 0.9 ppm) showed good agreement with measured data indicating the validity of data derived from the Rietveld structural refinement.

Single-pass flow-through (SPFT) experiments were conducted on a set of non-radioactive Ti-based ceramics at 90 °C and pH = 2 to 12. The specimens contained 27.9 to 35.8 wt% CeO 2 as a surrogate for UO 2 and PuO 2 . Compositions were formulated as TiO 2 -saturated pyrochlore (CeP1) and pyrochlore-rich baseline (CePB1) ceramic waste forms. Pyrochlore + Hf-rutile and pyrochlore + perovskite + Hf-rutile constituted the major phases in the CeP1 and CePB1 ceramics, respectively. Results from dissolution experiments between pH = 2 to 12 indicate a shallow pH-dependence with an ill-defined minimum. Element release rates determined from experiments over a range of sample surface areas ( S ) and flow rates ( q ) indicate that dissolution rates become independent of q/S values at 10 −8 to 10 −7 m/s. Dissolution rates dropped sharply at lower values of q/S , indicating rates that are subject to solution saturation effects as dissolved constituents become concentrated. Forward dissolution rates were 1.3(0.30) × 10 −3 and 5.5(1.3) × 10 −3 g/m 2 ·d for CeP1 and CePB1 ceramics, respectively. Dissolution rates obtained in other laboratories compare well to the findings of this study, once the rate data are placed in the context of solution saturation state. These results make progress toward an evaluation of CeO 2 as a surrogate for UO 2 and PuO 2 as well as establishing a baseline for comparison with radiation-damaged specimens.

A set of reactive chemical transport calculations were conducted with the Subsurface Transport Over Reactive Multiphases (STORM) code to evaluate the long-term performance of a representative low-activity waste glass in a shallow subsurface disposal system located on the Hanford site. Two different trench designs were considered, one with four rows of small waste packages (old design), the other with three layers of larger waste packages (new design). One-dimensional (1D) simulations were carried out to 20,000yr, whereas two-dimensional (2D) simulations could only be carried out for 10,000 yr due to constraints on computational time. Both the 1D and 2D simulations predicted that the technetium release rate from the waste packages would be lower for the new trench design at times greater than 1 yr. Having fewer, larger waste packages decreases the glass surface area exposed to reaction with pore water. In the 2D simulations, water can flow around the waste packages, which causes a decrease in the water flux through the waste packages and lower release rates than predicted in the 1D simulations. This result reinforces the importance of performing multi-dimensional waste form release simulations.

Chemical and biological warfare agents (CBWAs) are highly toxic compounds. Safe and effective ways of detection and neutralization is very important with reference to human life and environment. In this article, we present a brief outline on various engineered porous materials developed for detection/destruction of CBWAs.

Determination of aqueous phase diffusion coefficients of solutes through porous media is essential for understanding and modeling contaminant transport. Prediction of diffusion coefficients in both saturated and unsaturated zones requires knowledge of tortuosity and constrictivity factors. No methods are available for the direct measurement of these factors, which are empirical in their definition. In this paper, a new definition for the tortuosity factor is proposed, as the real to ideal interfacial area ratio. We define the tortuosity factor for saturated porous media (tau5) as the ratio S/S(o) (specific surface of real porous medium to that of an idealized capillary bundle). For unsaturated media, tortuosity factor (tau(a)) is defined as a(aw)/a(aw),o (ratio of the specific air-water interfacial area of real and the corresponding idealized porous medium). This tortuosity factor is suitably measured using sorptive tracers (e.g., nitrogen adsorption method) for saturated media and interfacial tracers for unsaturated media. A model based on this new definition of tortuosity factors, termed the interfacial area ratio (IAR) model, is presented for the prediction of diffusion coefficients as a function of the degree of water saturation. Diffusion coefficients and diffusive resistances measured in a number of saturated and unsaturated granular porous media, for solutes in dilute aqueous solutions, agree well with the predictions of the IAR model. A comparison of permeability of saturated sands estimated based on tau(s) and the same based on the Kozeny-Carman equation confirm the usefulness of the tau(s) parameter as a measure of tortuosity.

Adsorption of Mo on to hydrous TiO2 (anatase) particles was investigated. Batch experiments were conducted at 19 and 90 °C over a pH range of 2 to 12 and Mo concentrations ranging from approximately 10−6 to 10−4 M. The extent of sorption was strongly dependent on pH and surface loading. Maximum sorption was observed in the acidic pH range at low surface loading. Adsorption behavior was described using the empirical Langmuir adsorption model. A constant capacitance surface complexation model was also used to fit the adsorption isotherms using a ligand exchange reaction for a hydroxyl surface site on anatase. Comparison of experimental data at two different temperatures (19 and 90 °C) indicates that Mo sorption in the acidic pH range decreases with increasing temperature.

Geological sequestration of CO2 has been recognized as an important strategy for reducing the CO2 concentration in the atmosphere. Simple and easy to use modeling tools would be valuable in assessing the performance of a deep well operation during and after injection. Presented here is a semi-analytical model to simulate the deep well injection of CO2 for geological sequestration. Equations governing the radial injection of an immiscible CO2 phase into saturated confined formations (representing deep saline aquifers and reservoirs), its axisymmetric flow around the injector and eventual buoyancy driven floating with simultaneous dissolution were formulated. The effect of pertinent fluid, reservoir and operational characteristics on the deep well injection of CO2 was investigated. The results indicate that the injected CO2 initially grows as a bubble radially outward, a part of which eventually dissolves in the formation waters, floats toward the top due to buoyancy and settles near the top confining layer. It was shown that the formation permeability and porosity, as well as the rate and pressure of injection, all have a significant influence on the growth and ultimate distribution of the immiscible CO2 phase. Further, dissolution of CO2 also was shown to have a significant effect on the growth and distribution of the CO2 bubble.

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have been considered to be novel adsorbents for a variety of applications, because of their high surface areas, large pore volumes, tunable pore geometries, and versatile chemical compositions. Besides their applications in energy gas storage, such as H2 and CH4, harmful gas removal has become an important potential area for MOFs applications. This chapter reviews recent research related to four different types of harmful gas adsorption in MOFs, including greenhouse gases such as CO2, inorganic toxic gases such as SOx, NOx, and NH3; volatile organic compounds such as benzene and formaldehyde; and radioactive gases such as Xe, Kr, and I2. This information is organized in a way that will attempt to introduce this attractive research area to a broad audience, as well as to reveal some trends and significant discoveries to the researchers who are interested in this area. Obviously, removing harmful gases can provide a cleaner and safer living environment to human beings and other creatures. MOFs as novel adsorbents possess advantages, such as high gas adsorption capacities and selectivities, as well as adjustable properties to suit specific needs. However, more fundamental work is still necessary to understand this topic better, and some challenges, such as cost and stability, are in the way of applying MOFs to practical applications. Keywords: metal–organic framework; gas adsorption; CO2 capture; toxic gas; volatile organic compound; radioactive gas

Crystalline metal organic framework (MOF) materials containing interconnected porosity can be chemically modified to promote stimulus-driven (light, magnetic or electric fields) structural transformations that can be used in a number of devices. Innovative research strategies are now focused on understanding the role of chemical bond manipulation to reversibly alter the free volume in such structures of critical importance for electro-catalysis, molecular electronics, energy storage technologies, sensor devices and smart membranes. In this letter, we study the mechanism for which an electrically switchable MOF composed of Cu(TCNQ) (TCNQ = 7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane) transitions from a high-resistance state to a conducting state in a reversible fashion by an applied potential. The actual mechanism for this reversible electrical switching is still not understood even though a number of reports are available describing the application of electric-field-induced switching of Cu(TCNQ) in device fabrication.

Metal-organic frameworks comprise an important class of solid-state materials and have potential for many emerging applications such as energy storage, separation, catalysis and bio-medical. Here we report the adsorption behaviour of a series of fluorocarbon derivatives on a set of microporous and hierarchical mesoporous frameworks. The microporous frameworks show a saturation uptake capacity for dichlorodifluoromethane of >4 mmol g(-1) at a very low relative saturation pressure (P/P-o) of 0.02. In contrast, the mesoporous framework shows an exceptionally high uptake capacity reaching >14 mmol g(-1) at P/P-o of 0.4. Adsorption affinity in terms of mass loading and isosteric heats of adsorption is found to generally correlate with the polarizability and boiling point of the refrigerant, with dichlorodifluoromethane >chlorodifluoromethane >chlorotrifluoromethane >tetrafluoromethane >methane. These results suggest the possibility of exploiting these sorbents for separation of azeotropic mixtures of fluorocarbons and use in eco-friendly fluorocarbon-based adsorption cooling.

First-principles molecular dynamics simulations were carried out to explore the mechanistic and thermodynamic ramifications of the exposure of variably hydrated Ca-rich montmorillonites to supercritical CO2 and CO2-SO2 mixtures under geologic storage conditions. In sub- to single-hydrated systems (≤ 1W), CO2 intercalation causes interlamellar expansion of 8-12%, while systems transitioning to 2W may undergo contraction (∼ 7%) or remain almost unchanged. When compared to ∼2W hydration state, structural analysis of the ≤ 1W systems, reveals more Ca-CO2 contacts and partial transition to vertically confined CO2 molecules. Infrared spectra and projected vibrational frequency analysis imply that intercalated Ca-bound CO2 are vibrationally constrained and contribute to the higher frequencies of the asymmetric stretch band. Reduced diffusion coefficients of intercalated H2O and CO2 (10(-6)-10(-7) cm(2)/s) indicate that Ca-montmorillonites in ∼ 1W hydration states can be more efficient in capturing CO2. Simulations including SO2 imply that ∼ 0.66 mmol SO2/g clay can be intercalated without other significant structural changes. SO2 is likely to divert H2O away from the cations, promoting Ca-CO2 interactions and CO2 capture by further reducing CO2 diffusion (10(-8) cm(2)/s). Vibrational bands at ∼ 1267 or 1155 cm(-1) may be used to identify the chemical state (oxidation states +4 or +6, respectively) and the fate of sulfur contaminants.

Spatially resolved deep-ultraviolet (UV) Raman spectroscopy was applied to solutions of CO2 and H2O or D2O subject to a temperature gradient in a thermally regulated high-pressure concentric-tube Raman cell in an attempt to measure a Soret effect in the vicinity of the critical point of CO2. Although Raman spectra of solutions of CO2 dissolved in D2O, at 10 MPa and temperatures near the critical point of CO2, had adequate signal-to-noise and spatial resolution to observe a Soret effect with a Soret coefficient with magnitude | ST| > 0.03, no evidence for an effect of this size was obtained for applied temperature gradients up to 19 °C. In contrast, the concentration of CO2 dissolved in H2O was shown to vary significantly across the temperature gradient when excess CO2 was present, but the results could be explained simply by the variation in CO2 solubility over the temperature range and not by kinetic factors. For mixtures of D2O dissolved in scCO2 at 10 MPa and temperatures close to the critical point of CO2, the Raman peaks for D2O were too weak to measure with confidence even at the limit of D2O solubility.

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have recently attracted intense research interest because of their permanent porous structures, large surface areas, and potential applications as novel adsorbents. The recent progress in adsorption-based CO2 capture by MOFs is reviewed and summarized in this critical review. CO2 adsorption in MOFs has been divided into two sections, adsorption at high pressures and selective adsorption at approximate atmospheric pressures. Keys to CO2 adsorption in MOFs at high pressures and low pressures are summarized to be pore volumes of MOFs, and heats of adsorption, respectively. Many MOFs have high CO2 selectivities over N2 and CH4. Water effects on CO2 adsorption in MOFs are presented and compared with benchmark zeolites. In addition, strategies appeared in the literature to enhance CO2 adsorption capacities and/or selectivities in MOFs have been summarized into three main categories, catenation and interpenetration, chemical bonding enhancement, and electrostatic force involvement. Besides the advantages, two main challenges of using MOFs in CO2 capture, the cost of synthesis and the stability toward water vapor, have been analyzed and possible solutions and path forward have been proposed to address the two challenges as well (150 references).

Spatially resolved deep-UV Raman spectroscopy was applied to solutions of CO2 and H2O (or D2O), which were subject to a temperature gradient in a thermally regulated high-pressure concentric-tube Raman cell in an attempt to measure a Soret effect in the vicinity of the critical point of CO2. Although Raman spectra of solutions of CO2 dissolved in D2O at 10 MPa and temperatures near the critical point of CO2 had adequate signal-to-noise and spatial resolution to observe a Soret effect with a Soret coefficient with magnitude of |ST| > 0.03, no evidence for an effect of this size was obtained for applied temperature gradients up to 19oC. The presence of 1 M NaCl did not make a difference. In contrast, the concentration of CO2 dissolved in H2O was shown to vary significantly across the temperature gradient when excess CO2 was present, but the results could be explained simply by the variation in CO2 solubility over the temperature range and not to kinetic factors. For mixtures of D2O dissolved in scCO2 at 10 MPa and temperatures close to the critical point of CO2, the Raman peaks for H2O were too weak to measure with confidence even at the limit of D2O solubility.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have recently attracted intense research interest because of their permanent porous structures, large surface areas, and potential applications as novel adsorbents. The recent progress in adsorption-based CO(2) capture by MOFs is reviewed and summarized in this critical review. CO(2) adsorption in MOFs has been divided into two sections, adsorption at high pressures and selective adsorption at approximate atmospheric pressures. Keys to CO(2) adsorption in MOFs at high pressures and low pressures are summarized to be pore volumes of MOFs, and heats of adsorption, respectively. Many MOFs have high CO(2) selectivities over N(2) and CH(4). Water effects on CO(2) adsorption in MOFs are presented and compared with benchmark zeolites. In addition, strategies appeared in the literature to enhance CO(2) adsorption capacities and/or selectivities in MOFs have been summarized into three main categories, catenation and interpenetration, chemical bonding enhancement, and electrostatic force involvement. Besides the advantages, two main challenges of using MOFs in CO(2) capture, the cost of synthesis and the stability toward water vapor, have been analyzed and possible solutions and path forward have been proposed to address the two challenges as well (150 references).