The gravimetric tank method to evaluate CO2 adsorption in MOFs

Details

Supervisors

Filinchuk, Yaroslav ; Garcia, Yann

Faculty

Faculté des bioingénieurs

Degree label

Master [120] : bioingénieur en chimie et bioindustries

Abstract

Adsorption is at the heart of a lot of research in today’s background of environmental challenges, as it can be applied for gas storage and separations. However, it is not a trivial phenomenon, and the methods and models to evaluate it are complicated, often prone to errors and controversies, and extremely time-consuming. In 2018, Iakunkov et al. proposed a new method : the gravimetric tank method. It uses a model based on simpler variables, focusing more on the practical aspect of gas storage, as opposed to the precise material characterization. In this thesis, we push their idea further by setting up a modified version of their method, which allows for a continuous monitoring of the adsorption through the filling and emptying of the test tank, while reducing greatly the time needed for a measurement, restoring the possibility to make full adsorption isotherms in a reasonable time. The method was tested by applying it to CO2 adsorption on MOFs and comparing the results with a reference volumetric method, and the MOFs were characterized through BET, TGA, and other analyses to try and explain the observations more deeply. Encouraging results were obtained, even though their precision does not allow the method, at this stage of development, to be used on its own. Many sources of error were identified, as well as the next steps to be taken in the development of the method to make it competitive and complementary with the other ones available.