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Tuning of Delicate Host–Guest Interactions in Hydrated MIL‐53 and Functional Variants for Furfural Capture from Aqueous Solution
Author(s) -
Cao Na,
Wang Honglei,
Ban Yujie,
Wang Yuecheng,
Yang Kun,
Zhou Yingwu,
Zhao Meng,
Deng Weiqiao,
Yang Weishen
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
angewandte chemie international edition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.831
H-Index - 550
eISSN - 1521-3773
pISSN - 1433-7851
DOI - 10.1002/anie.202011678
Subject(s) - furfural , aqueous solution , chemistry , terephthalic acid , xylose , chemical engineering , adsorption , extraction (chemistry) , distillation , organic chemistry , catalysis , fermentation , polyester , engineering
Capture of high‐boiling‐point furfural from diluted aqueous solution is a critical but challenging step in sustainable bio‐refinery processes, but conventional separation methods such as distillation and liquid‐liquid extraction requires prohibitive energy consumption. We report control over the microenvironment of hydrated MIL‐53 and isoreticular variants with diversified functional terephthalic acid linkers for the purpose of preferential binding of furfural through delicate host‐guest interactions. Methyl‐bounded MIL‐53 with improved binding energy in the hydrated form results in highly efficient capture ratio (ca. 98 %) in the extremely low concentration of furfural solution (0.5–3 wt %) and 100 % furfural specificity over xylose. The distinct hydrogen bonding sites and multiple Van de Wall interactions for furfural adsorption was testified by computational modeling. Furthermore, the recovery ratio of furfural reaches ca. 93 % in desorption.