Adsorptive separation of isobutene and isobutane on Cu3(BTC)2.

The metal organic framework material Cu3(BTC)2 (BTC = 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylate) has been synthesized using different routes: under solvothermal conditions in an autoclave, under atmospheric pressure and reflux, and by electrochemical reaction. Although the compounds display similar structural properties as evident from the powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns, they differ largely in specific surface area and total pore volume. Thermogravimetric and chemical analysis support the assumption that pore blocking due to trimesic acid and/or methyltributylammoniummethylsulfate (MTBS) which has been captured in the pore system during reaction is a major problem for the electrochemically synthesized samples.