Modifying HKUST-1 Crystals for Selective Ethane Adsorption Using Ionic Liquids as Synthesis Media

Novel adsorbents for methane and ethane based on HKUST-1 metal-organic framework were synthesized by microwave (MW) assisted technique using ionic liquids (ILs) as synthesis media. It was found that the MW synthesis time remarkably impacts both the product yield and the physico-chemical characteristics of the produced HKUST-1 material. The crystalline phase purity, crystallite size/dispersion and textural properties of the synthesized HKUST-1 matrices determine their performance in methane and ethane adsorption. Therefore, the HKUST-1 material produced in MW fields for 3 min only shows the highest phase purity and the largest surface area (BET) and porosity, along with a rather small crystallite size (below ~300 nm), demonstrating high methane and ethane adsorption capacity in the pressure range 1–30 atm.