A comparative study of the physical and chemical properties of pelletized HKUST-1, ZIF-8, ZIF-67 and UiO-66 powders

The physical and chemical properties of four metal organic frameworks were examined before and after the pelletization process with pressure (tablet) and binders (pellet) for their possible use in industrial or other commercial processes. Due to the uniqueness of their crystal structure, each MOF behaved differently under the same treatment. ZIF-8 proved to be very robust in the presence of binding materials (pellet) as well as after the application of pressure (tablet). The presence of water resulted in the reversible partial loss of their crystalline morphology in the case of HKUST-1 and UiO-66 (pellet). The crystal structure of ZIF-67 was irreversibly lost in the case of the pellet but it was well maintained under pressure (tablet).