Computational evaluation of the diffusion mechanisms for C8 aromatics in porous organic cages
File(s)single_molecule_7thdraft.pdf (6.93 MB)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Jackson, Edward
Miklitz, Marcin
Song, Qilei
Tribello, Gareth A
Jelfs, Kim
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
The development of adsorption and membrane-based separation technologies toward more energy and cost-efficient processes is a significant engineering problem facing the world today. An example of a process in need of improvement is the separation of C8 aromatics to recover para-xylene, which is the precursor to the widely used monomer terephthalic acid. Molecular simulations were used to investigate whether the separation of C8 aromatics can be carried out by the porous organic cages CC3 and CC13, both of which have been previously used in the fabrication of amorphous thin-film membranes. Metadynamics simulations showed significant differences in the energetic barriers to the diffusion of different C8 aromatics through the porous cages, especially for CC3. These differences imply that meta-xylene and ortho-xylene will take significantly longer to enter or leave the cages. Therefore, it may be possible to use membranes composed of these materials to separate ortho- and meta-xylene from para-xylene by size exclusion. Differences in the C8 aromatics’ diffusion barriers were caused by their different diffusion mechanisms, while the lower selectivity of CC13 was largely down to its more significant pore breathing. These observations will aid the future design of adsorbents and membrane systems with improved separation performance.
Date Issued
2019-07-31
Date Acceptance
2019-07-31
Citation
The Journal of Physical Chemistry C: Energy Conversion and Storage, Optical and Electronic Devices, Interfaces, Nanomaterials, and Hard Matter, 2019, 123 (34), pp.21011-21021
ISSN
1932-7447
Publisher
American Chemical Society
Start Page
21011
End Page
21021
Journal / Book Title
The Journal of Physical Chemistry C: Energy Conversion and Storage, Optical and Electronic Devices, Interfaces, Nanomaterials, and Hard Matter
Volume
123
Issue
34
Copyright Statement
© 2019 American Chemical Society. This document is the Accepted Manuscript version of a Published Work that appeared in final form in Journal of Physical Chemistry C, after peer review and technical editing by the publisher. To access the final edited and published work see https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpcc.9b05953
Sponsor
The Royal Society
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC)
Commission of the European Communities
The Royal Society
Identifier
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.jpcc.9b05953
Grant Number
UF120469
EP/M017257/1
758370
URF\R\180012
Subjects
Science & Technology
Physical Sciences
Technology
Chemistry, Physical
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Chemistry
Science & Technology - Other Topics
Materials Science
MOLECULAR-DYNAMICS
ZEOLITE MEMBRANE
XYLENE ISOMERS
P-XYLENE
SEPARATION
FRAMEWORKS
HYDROCARBONS
SELECTIVITY
CHANNELS
POROSITY
Physical Chemistry
09 Engineering
03 Chemical Sciences
10 Technology
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2019-07-31