Fabrication of homochiral metal‐organic framework membrane for enantioseparation of racemic diols

Chiral metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs) used to discriminate chiral enantiomers are of great practical significance. In this study, a novel homochiral [Ni 2 (L‐asp) 2 (bipy)] membrane was fabricated on a porous ceramic support and used for enantioselective separation of racemic diols. High‐energy ball milling was applied to decrease the size of MOF crystals to achieve homogeneous seed suspensions. A high‐quality homochiral membrane was obtained after optimizing the preparation process. Under the concentration‐driven permeation process, racemic 2‐methyl‐2,4‐pentanediol (MPD) was readily separated by the as‐prepared membrane. At 30°C, an enantiomeric excess value of 35.5 ± 2.5% was obtained at a feed concentration of 1.0 mmol L −1 . The chiral separation of racemic MPD via the membrane followed a preferential sorption mechanism. © 2013 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J , 59: 4364–4372, 2013