A metal-OH group modification strategy to prepare highly-hydrophobic MIL-53-Al for efficient acetone capture under humid conditions

A series of highly-hydrophobic MIL-53-Al (MIL = Materials of Institut Lavoisier) frameworks synthesized via decoration of the Al-OH groups by alkyl phosphonic acid were developed as adsorbents for removing acetone from humid gas streams. The newly prepared materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), N₂ adsorption-desorption and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Their adsorption behaviors toward acetone vapor under dry and wet conditions were studied subsequently. Results showed that alkyl phosphonic acid was successfully grafted into MIL-53-Al skeleton through coordinating interaction with Al³⁺ generating [email protected]_x (x = 12, 14, 18). The [email protected]_x exhibited similar crystal structure and thermal stability to parent MIL-53-Al. Furthermore, the modified materials showed significantly enhanced hydrophobicity. The water vapor uptake of [email protected]₁₄ decreased by 72.55% at 75% relative humidity (RH). Dynamic adsorption experiments demonstrated that water vapor had almost no effect on the acetone adsorption performance of [email protected]₁₄. Under the condition of 90% RH, the acetone adsorption capacity of [email protected]₁₄ was 102.98% higher than that of MIL-53-Al. Notably, [email protected]₁₄ presented excellent adsorption reversibility and regeneration performance in 10 adsorption-desorption cycles. Taken together, the strategy of metal-OH group modification is an attractive way to improve the acetone adsorption performance over metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) under humid conditions. Besides, [email protected]₁₄ would be deemed as a promising candidate for capturing acetone in high moisture environment.