At scale synthesis and granulation of water-based aluminium fumarate metal-organic framework - crystallinity, textural properties, and structural integrity

The large-scale synthesis and shaping of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) for industrial applications is a growing research focus and preserving the intrinsic properties of MOF powder during shaping is crucial for practical implementation. Herein, aluminium fumarate (Al-fum) MOF granules were produced with a 95 wt% MOF powder to 5 wt% binder ratio and the impacts of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) binders on the properties of the shaped MOF granules were compared. The shaped granules were characterized for crystallinity, morphology, thermal stability, functional groups, textural properties, and mechanical strength. XRD confirmed that Al-fum MOF retained its crystallinity after granulation with PVA. MOF powder BET surface area of 952.23 m²/g was obtained using tap water, and 1117.95 m²/g with deionized water (DIW) as the solvent for synthesis. The binder additives resulted in 6.8 % loss in BET surface area upon granulation. Specifically, the PVA binder confers better mechanical strength, withstanding a load of 20 N, whereas Al-fum MOF/PVDF granules endured only 11 N. This study successfully demonstrated the feasibility of producing water-based Al-fum MOF powder at scale and industrial shaping it into granules while maintaining crystallinity, porosity, functionality, and sufficient mechanical stability.