Metal-organic framework membranes on the inner-side of a polymeric hollow fiber by microfluidic synthesis

Polymeric hollow fiber membranes represent a high degree of process intensification closer to scaling-up. Metal-organic framework ZIF-7 and ZIF-8 continuous membranes were synthesized on the inner surface of a 520μm outer diameter polysulfone hollow fiber using microfluidics. This provided a constant reactant concentration along the membrane for growing homogeneous, continuous and thin layers of ZIF-7 (2.4μm) and ZIF-8 (3.6μm) with good adherence. The high quality of the membranes and the zeolite-like sodalite porous structure of both MOFs with pore apertures of 0.30-0.34nm allowed operation at high temperature (150°C) and pressure (4bar). High separation factors in CO₂ and H₂ containing mixtures were achieved.