Experiment+Set-ups | stem2015group1220ang

plastic container

This is the most important apparatus used in the synthesize process, which is called the autoclave reactor (as the picture shown on the left). The lids and the shell are for protection and the plastic container is where the reaction goes on.

Synthesis of MOF

Testing of MOF

This is one of the key sets of apparatus for testing and data-collecting. The pressure transducer is used to record data and send them to a computer software. The water bath is used to keep the temperature constant throughout the experiment.

This is another set of key apparatus involved. The adsorption chamber is where the MOFs are placed and adsorption are taken place in.

The synthesis of MOF (S. Kayal) has two parts: reaction and doping (which aimes to improve the behaviour of the MOF).

Step 1: Weighing Metals

Metal salts (e.g. Cr(NO3)3) and organic ligands (e.g. Terephthalic Acid) are weighed and put into a plastic container.

Step 2: Dissolving Chemicals

Add water to dissolve these two chemicals.

Stir the mixture to speed up the process.

Step 3: Heat up the mixture

The plastic container is then put into the oven. Temperature is set at 80 celcius degree and left for overnight.

Step 4: Preparation for Doping Process

The salts needed for the doping process is weighed. (The salts taken is determined by the type of MOF)

Step 5: Mixing

The MOF is then taken out from the oven. Now it is a fine powder already. Then it is mixed with the salt taken in step 4. Hexane is used to form a suspension of the two chemicals. After that, we use the magnetic stirrer to make it homogeneous.

Step 6: Drying

The mixture is the left to stand. To make the drying process easier, some of hexane is take out from the beaker by hand. It is then dried in the oven.

Step 1: Charging Helium

A vacuum pump is used to charge helium into the two charging cells.

Step 2: Vacuuming the adsorption chamber:

The MOF is put into the adsorption chamber. A vacuuming pump is then used to vacuum the chamber.

Step 3: Let the helium in

Helium is then led into the adsoption chamber in order to drive all the air molecules out of the MOF.

Testing of methane adsorption using MOF

Step 1:

Charge methane instead of helium into the charging cell, and keep the temperature constant using the water tank.

Step 2:

Vacuum the adsorption chamber and heat up MOF inside the chamber using a special heater to the target temperature (e.g. 400K shown in the picture).

Step 3:

Open the valve, charge methane into the adsorption chamber to a target pressure. The changing Pressure during adsorption process will be recorded by the pressure gauge and send to computer for further analysis.