Scaling & Supramolecular Engineering of Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs)

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are adsorbents that show promise in toxic chemical remediation, energy storage, air separation, and multiple other military and civilian applications. However, lack of supply limits these materials to laboratory environments. To transition MOFs into packaged solutions, relevant materials must be shown to scale to production volumes.For use in gas separation, MOFs must be formed into macroporous structures. This step allows optimization of mass transfer and pressure drop, increasing breakthrough time while maintaining breathability. Formation must be considered as part of the production process, and scaled alongside other process steps.Finally, NU-1000, a MOF specifically designed for toxic gas filtration, must be considered. This material has exhibited exceptional performance, but its utility is limited by synthetic complexity. By critically examining cost drivers, this material may be able to overcome its current limitations and enable next-generation product performance.