Metal-organic frameworks for selective ion extraction
A metal-organic framework (MOF) may include a body including a MOF crystal having a composition selected to selectively extract one or more elements of interest from an aqueous solution. The MOF may include a plurality of MOF crystals bound by a bonding agent.
1 . An apparatus for extracting an element of interest from an aqueous extraction feed, the apparatus comprising:
a vessel comprising:
a first plurality of metal-organic framework (MOF) bodies, each of the first plurality of MOF bodies including a monolithic MOF crystal; and
a bonding agent connecting the first plurality of MOF bodies, wherein the bonding agent comprises a second plurality of MOFs, wherein each of the second plurality of MOFs is in a non-crystallized state;
a fluid tank; and
a fluid circulation device in fluid communication with the fluid tank and the vessel, the fluid circulation device configured to circulate an aqueous extraction fluid from the fluid tank in the vessel so that the aqueous extraction fluid contacts the first plurality of MOF bodies.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a sensor configured to sense a concentration of the element of interest in the aqueous extraction fluid, and a controller configured to control the fluid circulation device so that the aqueous extraction fluid is circulated based on the sensed concentration.
3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the vessel is configured so that the first plurality of MOF bodies remains in the vessel while circulating the aqueous extraction fluid.
4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of MOF bodies includes a plurality of first MOF bodies having monolithic MOF crystals to selectively extract a first element of interest and a plurality of second MOF bodies having monolithic MOF crystals to selectively extract a second element of interest.
5 . The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the first element of interest and/or the second element of interest include at least one of lithium (Li), nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co), bromine (Br), uranium (U), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), chromium (Cr), molybdenum (Mo), manganese (Mn), rare earth metals, palladium (Pd), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), thorium (Th), selenium (Se), fluorine (F), aluminum (Al), gallium (Ga), platinum (Pt), neodymium (Nd), dysprosium (Dy), terbium (Tb), praseodymium (Pr), iridium (Ir), or boron (B).
6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the first plurality of MOF bodies is oriented perpendicular to the bonding agent.
7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the first plurality of MOF bodies has a BET surface area of at least 500 m 2 /g.
8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the monolithic MOF crystal comprises UiO-66 (C 48 H 28 O 34 Zr 6 ), UiO-67 (C 84 H 52 O 32 Zr 6 ), MOF-808 (C 24 H 16 O 32 Zr 6 ), NU-1000 (C 88 H 64 O 32 Zr 6 ), ZIF-8 (C 8 H 10 N 4 Zn), ZIF-90 (C 8 H 8 N 4 O 2 Zn), or any combination thereof.