Separation/purification of ethylene from an acetylene/ethylene mixture in a pillared-layer porous metal–organic framework

Abstract

Here we report the synthesis, structure and porous properties of a 3D pillared-layer porous framework of Mn(II)–Mn(III), {[Mn₃(bipy)₃(H₂O)₄][Mn(CN)₆]₂·2(bipy)·4H₂O}_n (1). The guest-removed framework (1a) shows significant uptake of C₂H₂, whereas it excludes the other two C2 hydrocarbons (C₂H₄ and C₂H₆). Furthermore, excellent separation proficiency for C₂H₂ from a mixture of C₂H₂ and C₂H₄ (1 : 99, v/v) is realized in a breakthrough column experiment under ambient conditions.