Process
intensification, with the aim of reducing the energy consumption
of the existing processes, opens the path to exploring diverse operating
conditions. As far as adsorption-based processes are concerned, cryogenic
temperatures and high pressures are less-explored conditions. In this
work, the adsorption equilibria of carbon dioxide, methane, carbon
monoxide, nitrogen, and hydrogen are assessed at temperatures of between
223 and 373 K and at pressures of up to 60 bar for acid-functionalized
UiO-66(Zr) MOF, the UiO-66(Zr)_(COOH)2, shaped as small
granules. UiO-66(Zr)_(COOH)2 is selective for carbon dioxide,
presenting the highest adsorption capacities among all of the tested
gases. The adsorption capacity then follows the order methane, nitrogen,
carbon monoxide, and hydrogen. Indeed, the very low capacity toward
carbon monoxide is a remarkable feature of this material. The carbon
dioxide/methane ideal selectivity at 220 K, 40 bar, and a feed composition
of 99% methane and 1% carbon dioxide is 44. The isosteric heats of
adsorption mirror the adsorption capacity, carbon dioxide has an adsorption
heat of between 40 and 20 kJ·mol–1, and methane
has a adsorption heat of between 25 and 10 kJ·mol–1. Nitrogen and carbon monoxide have the lowest adsorption heats of
about 20–10 and 15–10 kJ·mol–1, respectively. Thus, UiO-66(Zr)_(COOH)2 presents a high
potential for relevant industrial processes such as the natural gas/biogas
upgrade, hydrogen production, and syngas composition tuning.