METHOD FOR THE PREPARATION OF METAL ORGANIC FRAMEWORKS
This application claims the benefit of European Patent Application
EP16382120.0 filed March 18, 2016.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is related to the field of material chemistry, particularly, metal organic chemistry. The invention provides a method for the industrial preparation of metal organic frameworks.
BACKGROUND ART
Metal organic frameworks, also termed MOFs, form an interesting class of microporous or mesoporous substances having characteristics which allow their use in many technical fields, such as storage, separation or controlled release of chemical substances, catalysis and drug delivery. These potential applications are a direct consequence of the porous architecture of MOFs, which leads to high specific surface area of these materials.
MOFs are composed of two major components: a metal ion or cluster of metal ions and an organic molecule that plays the role of a ligand. The organic units are typically di-, tri- or polydentate ligands. The choice of metal and organic ligand has significant effects on the structure and properties of the MOF. For example, the metal coordination preference influences the size and shape of pores by dictating how many ligands can bind to the metal and in which orientation.
MOFs are produced almost exclusively by hydrothermal or solvothermal techniques, where crystals are slowly grown from a hot solution of metal precursor, such as metal salts, and bridging ligands. Since ligands in MOFs typically bind reversibly, the usual slow growth of crystals allows defects to be redissolved, resulting in a material with milli- and micrometer-scale crystals and a near-equilibrium defect density.
As a result of their industrial applicability, preparation of porous MOFs has attracted an interest over the last years, with numerous strategies having
been described in the literature. For instance, WO2010058123 and EP1070 538 disclose methods for hydrothermal preparation of MOFs. Similarly, US20100076220 discloses a process for the obtaining of crystalline porous metal organic compounds in a liquid phase at elevated temperature.
However, the use of MOFs for industrial applications, such as storage materials for consumer products, demands an immense scale-up of their synthesis. Most of the available methodologies imply the use of high temperatures, high pressure and long crystallization times. The required conditions thus obstruct considerably the scale-up of MOF preparation which is required for industrial application.
A scaled-up process using mild conditions has been disclosed in
US20090042000. This patent application discloses the preparation of kilogram quantities of Cu-benzene-1 ,3,5-tricarboxylic acid (1 ,3,5-BTC) by reacting an admixture of a copper nitrate with 1 ,3,5-BTC in the liquid phase at atmospheric pressure above 80 °C. Still, long crystallization times between 15 and 96 hours are needed to obtain the crystalline MOF. Shorter reaction times with mild conditions are disclosed in EP1373277. This document describes a method for the hydrothermal preparation of zinc terephtalate framework with good yields, the method comprising the reaction of an admixture of a zinc salt with terephtalic acid. The method requires the presence of a base (triethylamine) and a lactam or a lactone solvent.
However, even though the reaction time is shortened with respect to other methods, at least 3 hours of continuous stirring are needed to obtain a small quantity of MOF product, and no scale up has been attempted.
Additionally, most known preparation processes require the obtained MOF crystal to be separated from the mother liquor and further dried to obtain the final MOF product. The separation and drying steps add up to the already long preparation times.
Very recently, EP2764004 disclosed large-scale MOF production at mild conditions and good yields. Said process comprises spray drying a metal ion and an organic ligand which is at least bidentate into a spray dryer in the presence of a solvent. Reaction times needed for the synthesis of MOFs are
thereby greatly reduced and dry crystalline MOFs, such as HKUST-1 and other Cu-based MOFs, are provided directly out of the initial liquid reagents (without the need of filtering and drying). Despite this being a huge advance in the field, many interesting MOF subfamilies cannot be obtained with good yields and/or good properties by this method. Important MOFs like the UiO- 66, CPO-27-M subfamilies, among others, must still be prepared by
conventional hydrothermal methodologies, which carry all the disadvantages mentioned above. Thus, even though considerable improvements have been made in the preparation of MOFs at industrial conditions, there is still the need to provide methods that are suitable for the large-scale industrial preparation of a wide variety of MOFs. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The inventors have developed an alternative spray-drying process which allows for rapid, large-scale production at mild conditions of a wide variety of MOFs, some of which could not be obtained at these advatageous conditions by prior art methods, or were obtained with low yields and/or poor quality. The new method comprises first subjecting the reagents to a short activating step before spray-drying the activated reagents to form the dry, crystaline MOF.
Thus the first aspect of the invention relates to a process for the preparation of dry crystalline metal organic frameworks which comprises:
a) contacting at least one metal ion and at least one organic ligand which is at least bidentate in the presence of a solvent at a temperature comprised from 70 °C to 150 °C during a time comprised from 20 to 1 10 s,
b) spray drying the mixture obtained from step a) under conditions
appropriate to form dry crystalline metal organic frameworks, and
c) collecting the formed dry crystalline metal organic frameworks.
Figure 19 shows a schematic representation of a particular embodiment of the method of the invention. During step a) the reagents are activated forming Secondary Building Units (SBU) which are more suitable starting points for synthesis of different types of MOF which are based in complex and large SBUs, such as oxoclusters in the case of UiO-66 series or helical rods in the
CPO-27 family, opening the way to mass production of these industrially relevant materials. Selecting the optimal combination of conditions at which appropriate activation of the reagents is achieved is crucial for obtaining good quality MOF at high yields. Sub-optimal conditions will either not achieve formation of the required SBU or will promote growth of the MOF crystal thus interfering with the spray-drying of the (over-) activated solution (step b). Over-activation during step a) may stopple the spray-dryer's noozle, reduce the yield and/or result in poor quality MOF. Under-activation will result in poor quality MOF and/or a poor yield, or even no MOF at all.
Advantageously, the activation and spray-drying (steps a and b in the first aspect of the invention) may be performed in continuous flow. The whole process may be continuous by installing a continuous unloading system for collecting the dry crystalline MOF (step c).
The process of the invention of course has all the advantages described for the prior spray-drying method: mild conditions, regular industrial equipment, drastically reduced reaction times and reduced dimensions of the obtained MOFs. Altogether, the process is scalable, clean, economical and
environmental friendly.
In addition to producing MOF families which could not be obtained with the prior spray-drying method, the present process has the advantage of improving crystallinity of MOF particles. Further, the obtained MOFs are usually in the form of spherical beads of size comprised from 0.1 to 400 μιτι.
Such beads are compact tiny particles, highly robust and difficult to break which cannot be obtained by means previously disclosed. The resulting product has the advantage of possessing surprisingly high MOF particle density, in addition to intrinsically high specific surface area, which translates into higher absorption capacity when compared to prior art products. While having such high MOF density, the product of the invention is also
advantageous in terms of storing and transportation.
Thus a second aspect of the invention refers to crystalline metal organic frameworks obtained by the process as defined above. Such MOFs are preferably in the form of spherical beads, usually of size comprised from 0.1 to 400 pm.
The crystals directly obtained by the process of the invention may have purity up to 99% (w/w). Additional washing and drying steps result in substantially pure crystals. Altogether, the process of the invention contributes to MOF quality and increases production ease and yield.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 : a) X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) pattern of Zr-1 ,4-BDC (also known as UiO-66) obtained according to the invention (upper pattern) and simulated pattern of UiO-66 obtained by solvothermal method reported in the literature (Cavka S. S. Y. et al) (lower pattern), b) Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) image of the spherical superstructure of Zr-1 ,4-BDC of the invention. FIG 2: a) XRPD pattern of Zr-1 ,4-BDC-NH2 (UiO-66-NH2) obtained according to the invention ( example 1 .2) (upper pattern) and bare UiO-66 reported in the literature (Cavka S. S. Y., et al, lower pattern), b) SEM image for the Zr- 1 ,4-BDC-NH2 obtained according to the invention (example 1 .2). FIG 3: a) XRPD pattern of the Zr-1 ,4-BDC-Br (also known as UiO-66-Br) obtained according to the invention (upper pattern) and bare UiO-66 reported in the literature (Cavka S. S. Y, et al, lower pattern), b) SEM image for the Zr- 1 ,4-BDC-Br obtained according to the invention. FIG 4: a) XRPD pattern of the UiO-66-(OH)2 obtained according to the invention (upper pattern) compared with the bare UiO-66 reported in the literature (Cavka S. S. Y., et al, lower pattern), b) SEM image of the UiO-66- (OH)2 obtained according to the invention. FIG 5: a) XRPD pattern of the Zr-NDC obtained according to the invention
(upper pattern) compared with the MOF (also known as MIL-140-B) reported in the literature reported by Guillerm et al. b) SEM image of the Zr-NDC obtained according to the invention. FIG 6: a) XRPD pattern of UiO-66-NO2 obtained according to the invention (upper pattern) compared with the bare UiO-66 reported in the literature (Cavka S. S. Y, et al, lower pattern), b) SEM image of the UiO-66-NO2
obtained according to the invention.
FIG. 7: a) XRPD pattern of Zr-1 ,4-BDC-Acetamido (UiO-66-Acetamido) obtained according to the invention (upper pattern) compared with the bare UiO-66 reported in the literature (Cavka S. S. Y, et al, lower pattern), b) SEM image of the UiO-66-Acetamido obtained according to the invention.
FIG. 8: a) XRPD pattern of Zr-1 ,4-NDC (UiO-66-1 ,4-NDC) obtained according to the invention (upper pattern) compared with the bare UiO-66 reported in the literature (Cavka S. S. Y, et al, lower pattern), b) SEM image of the UiO- 66-1 ,4-NDC obtained according to the invention.
FIG. 9: a) XRPD pattern of [Ni8(OH)4(H2O)2(L)6]n obtained according to the invention (upper pattern) compared with the bare [Ni8(OH)4(H2O)2(L)6]n reported in the literature (Padial, et al, lower pattern), b) SEM image of the [Ni8(OH)4(H2O)2(L)6]n obtained according to the invention
FIG. 10: a) XRPD pattern of UiO-66-(BDC-Br)0 5(BDC) obtained according to the invention (upper pattern) compared with the bare UiO-66 reported in the literature (Cavka S. S. Y, et al, lower pattern), b) SEM image of the UiO-66- (BDC-Br)0 5(BDC) obtained according to the invention.
FIG. 11 : a) XRPD pattern of UiO-66-(BDC-Br)(BDC) obtained according to the invention (upper pattern) compared with the bare UiO-66 reported in the literature (Cavka S. S. Y, et al, lower pattern), b) SEM image of the UiO-66-
(BDC-Br)(BDC) obtained according to the invention.
FIG. 12: a) XRPD pattern of UiO-66-(BDC-Br)2(BDC) obtained according to the invention (upper pattern) compared with the bare UiO-66 reported in the literature (Cavka S. S. Y, et al, lower pattern), b) SEM image of the UiO-66-
(BDC-Br)2(BDC) obtained according to the invention.
FIG. 13: a) XRPD pattern of UiO-66-(BDC-Br)(BDC)(NH2-BDC) obtained according to the invention (upper pattern) compared with the bare UiO-66 reported in the literature (Cavka S. S. Y, et al, lower pattern), b) SEM image of the UiO-66-(BDC-Br)(BDC)(NH2-BDC) obtained according to the invention.
FIG. 14: a) XRPD pattern of Fe-1 ,3,5-BTC obtained according to the invention (upper pattern) compared with the simulated powder pattern for Fe-1 ,3,5- BTC. b) SEM image of the Fe-1 ,3,5-BTC obtained according to the invention. FIG. 15: a) XRPD pattern of CPO-27-Zn obtained according to the invention (upper pattern) compared to the CPO-27-Zn synthesized by the solvothermal method reported in the literature (Rosi N. L, et al, lower pattern), b) SEM image of the CPO-27-Zn obtained according to the invention. FIG. 16: a) XRPD pattern of CPO-27-Co obtained according to the invention (upper pattern) compared to the CPO-27-Co reported in the literature
(Dietzel, P. D. C, et al, 2005, lower pattern), b) SEM image of the CPO-27-Co obtained according to the invention. FIG. 17: a) XRPD pattern of CPO-27-Ni obtained according to the invention (upper pattern) compared to the CPO-27-Ni reported in the literature (Dietzel, P. D. C, et al, 2006, lower pattern), b) SEM image of the CPO-27-Ni obtained according to the invention. FIG. 18: a) XRPD pattern of CPO-27-Cu obtained according to the invention (upper pattern) compared to the CPO-27-Zn synthesized by the solvothermal method reported in the literature (Rosi N. L, et al, lower pattern), b) SEM image of the CPO-27-Zn obtained according to the invention. FIG. 19: Schematic representation of the synthesis of a MOF UiO-66 according to the invention. Δ, activation; SD, spray srying; 1 , reagents; 2, secondary building unit; 3, UiO-66 crystal.
FIG 20: a) XRPD pattern of Zr-1 ,4-BDC-NH2 (UiO-66-NH2) obtained according to the invention (example 6) (upper pattern) and bare UiO-66 reported in the literature (Cavka S. S. Y., et al, lower pattern), b) SEM image for the Zr-1 ,4-BDC-NH2 obtained according to the invention (example 6).
FIG 21 : a) XRPD pattern of MOF-801 obtained according to the invention (example 7) (upper pattern) and bare MOF-801 reported in the literature (Furukawa H, et al, lower pattern), b) SEM image for the MOF-801 obtained according to the invention (example 7).
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The invention is related to a facile, rapid and scalable method for the synthesis of MOFs, including complex MOFs, in a continuous flow reactor coupled to the spray dryer, combining the benefits of both systems as efficient mass and heat transfer during the continuous flow zone (activation step) and the possibility to confine the synthesis in individual reactors (atomized droplets) for the assembly of the MOF (growth step).
"Metal Organic Frameworks", also termed MOFs, are crystalline compounds consisting of metal ions coordinated to often rigid organic molecules to form one-, two-, or three-dimensional structures that are highly porous. By "organic ligand which is at least bidentate" it is understood an organic compound that is able to bind at least two metal ions through coordination bonds.
The term "spraying" (also known as atomizing) refers to the process of forming a spray, which is a dynamic collection of drops dispersed in a gas.
A "spray dryer" is a device well known in the state of the art where a liquid input stream is sprayed in small droplets through a nozzle (or atomizer) into a hot gas stream.
By "activating" in the sense of the present invention it is meant the process by which the reagents form Secondary Building Units (SBUs). "SBUs" are molecular complexes and cluster entities in which ligand coordination modules and metal coordination environments can be utilized in the
transformation of these fragments into extended porous frameworks (i.e.
MOFs).
The MOFs obtained by the process of the invention are usually in the form of tiny spherical beads with surprisingly high MOF density which translates in surprisingly high absorption capacity. The size of these beads is usually from 0.1 to 400 pm.
By "spherical beads" it is meant particles of spherical or quasi-spherical morphology. The beads are thus not necessarily perfect spheres but may be substantially spherical particles, i.e. comparable to a sphere. The term "bead" in the context of the present invention further implies that the particles are stuffed, i.e. they are not empty capsules but sound compact particles entirely formed by MOFs. Obtaining such high density MOF beads by a rapid, clean scalable and economical process has not been previously described.
As used herein, the term "size" refers to a characteristic physical dimension. For example, in the most usual case of a microcapsule that is spherical or substantially spherical, the size of the microcapsule corresponds to the diameter of the sphere or the equivalent diameter of the quasi-sphere assimilated as a sphere. The state of the art provides appropriate techniques and equipments to calculate the diameter of particles and in particular of spheres or substantially spherical particles. For example, the diameter can be measured using laser diffraction analysis. Alternatively, the size (diameter) of the beads of the invention may be calculated from their images, for example from SEM images, by hand or applying an appropriate imaging software such as Gatan microscopy suite software. When referring to a set of spherical beads as being of a particular size, it is contemplated that the set of beads can have a distribution of sizes around the specified size. Thus, as used herein, a size of a set of beads can refer to a mode of a distribution of sizes, such as a peak size of the distribution of sizes. As mentioned above, optimal conditions for the activating step are required to efficiently form SBUs that enable further synthesis of MOFs by spray-drying. In some embodiments, conditions in the activating step a) of the process of the invention are contacting at least one metal ion and at least one organic ligand which is at least bidentate in the presence of a solvent at a
temperature comprised from 80 °C to 150 °C during a time comprised from 20 to 100 s.
In particular embodiments the contacting temperature is comprised from 70 to 150 °C, or from 80 to 140 °C, or from 90 to 130 °C, or from 90 to 120 °C, or from 100 to 125 °C or from 100 to 120 °C, or from 100 to 1 15 °C, or from 1 10 to 120 °C, or from 80 to 1 15 °C, or from 80 to 1 10 °C, or from 90 to 1 10 °C, or from 85 to 105 °C, or from 80 to 100 °C, or from 90 to 100 °C.
In further particular embodiments the contacting step is performed during a time comprised from 20 to 1 10 s, or from 30 to 90 s, or from 40 to 80 s, or from 50 to 90 s, or from 50 to 70 s, or from 40 to 50 s, or from 50 to 60 s, or from 60 to 70 s, or from 70 to 80 s.
The metal ions for use in the process of the invention are those usually employed for the preparation of MOFs. Non-limiting metal ions are those from chemical elements in the following groups: alkali metals (Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Fr), alkaline earth metals (Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Ra), transition metals (Sc, Y, Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo, W, Mn, Tc, Re, Fe, Ru, Os, Co, Rh, Ir, Ni, Pd, Pt, Cu, Ag, Au, Zn, Cd, Hg) and post-transition metals (Al, Ga, In, TI, Sn, Pb, Bi), as well as metalloids (B, Si, Ge, As, Sb, Te, Po), lanthanides (La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu) and actinides (Ac, Th, Pa, U, Np, Pu, Am, Cm, Bk, Cf, Es, Fm, Md, No, Lr). Unusual metals not mentioned above or newly discovered could be also used in the method of the invention. In one embodiment the at least one metal ion is selected from the group consisting of Zr, Zn, Cu, Ni, Co, Fe, Mn, Cr, Cd, Mg, Ca, Zr, Gd, Eu, Tb, and mixtures thereof. In a preferred embodiment the at least one metal ion is selected from the group consisting of Zr, Zn, Cu, Fe, Gd, Mg, and mixtures thereof.
Practically speaking, the metal ion is provided as a compound which is a source of a metal ion, usually a salt. Non-limiting examples of metal salts for use in the invention are nitrates, chlorides, sulphates, acetates, hydroxides, oxides, acetylacetonates, bromides, carbonates, carboxylates, tartrates and perchlorates.
In certain embodiments, MOF formation can take place by reacting more than one metal ion. In one embodiment the process of the invention is performed by reacting between one and six different metal ions. In a preferred
embodiment the process of the invention is performed by reacting between one and three different metal ions. In a more preferred embodiment the process of the invention is performed by reacting between one and two different metal ions. For example, the MOF can be synthesized by reacting two metal ions with at least one organic ligand which is at least bidentate according to the present invention.
According to the invention it is also possible that the MOF is formed by the reaction of one or more metal ions with one or more organic ligands. In one embodiment the process of the invention is performed by reacting between one and six organic ligands which are at least bidentate. In a preferred embodiment the process of the invention is performed by reacting from one to three organic ligands which are at least bidentate. In a more preferred embodiment the process of the invention is performed by reacting from one to two organic ligands which are at least bidentate.
Thus, the metal ion or ions coordinate with one or more organic compounds that act like a ligand. The organic ligands in the sense of the present invention must be at least bidentate, meaning that they must be able to bind at least two metal ions by coordination bonds. The organic ligands according to the invention can be bidentate, but also tridentate, tetradentate or pluridentate in the sense that they may coordinate two, three, four or multiple metal ions through coordination bonds. In one embodiment, the organic ligand coordinates between 2 and 20 metal ions. In a preferred embodiment, the organic ligand coordinates between 2 and 12 metal ions. In a more preferred embodiment, the organic ligand coordinates between 2 and 8 metal ions. The ability to coordinate metal ions is conferred by certain functional groups. Non-limiting functional groups that can be contained by the organic ligand to form a MOF according to the invention are -COOH, -CSSH, -NO2, - B(OH)2, -SO3H, -Ge(OH)3, -Sn(OH)3, -Si(SH)4, -Ge(SH)4, -Sn(SH)3, -PO3H, - AsOsH, -AsO4H, -P(SH)3, As(SH)3, C4H2O4, -RSH, -RNH2, -RNR-, -ROH, -
RCN, -PO(OR)2, -RN3, where R is hydrogen, alkyl, alkylene, preferably C1 , C2, C3, C4 or C5 alkylene, or aryl group, preferably comprising 1 or 2 aromatic nuclei. In one embodiment, the at least one organic ligand which is at least bidentate contains functional groups selected from the group consisting of a
carboxylate, a phosphonate, an amine, an azide, a cyanide, a squaryl, an heteroatom, and mixtures thereof. Preferred heterocycles contain O, S and/or N. Non-limiting examples of preferred heterocycles in the sense of the invention are azoles, pyridines and diazines.
The at least one organic ligand which is at least bidentate may be comprised
of at least one functional group as mentioned above bound to any suitable organic compound, provided that it is ensured that the organic ligand is capable of coordinating at least two metal ions. In another embodiment, the at least one organic ligand which is at least bidentate is a monocarboxylic acid, a dicarboxylic acid, a tricarboxylic acid, a tetracarboxylic acid, imidazole, or mixtures thereof.
In a preferred embodiment, the at least one organic ligand which is at least bidentate is selected from the group consisting of formic acid, acetic acid, oxalic acid, propanoic acid, butanedioic acid, (E)-butenedioic acid, benzene- 1 ,4-dicarboxylic acid, benzene-1 ,3-dicarboxylic acid, benzene-1 ,3,5- tricarboxylic acid, 2-amino-1 ,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid, 2-bromo-1 ,4- benzenedicarboxylic acid, biphenyl-4,4'-dicarboxylic acid, biphenyl-3,3',5,5'- tetracarboxylic acid, biphenyl-3,4',5-tricarboxylic acid, 2,5-dihydroxy-1 ,4- benzenedicarboxylic acid, 1 ,3,5-tris(4-carboxyphenyl)benzene, (2E,4E)-hexa- 2,4-dienedioic acid, 1 ,4-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid, naphthalene-2,6- dicarboxylate, pyrene- 2,7-dicarboxylic acid, 4,5,9,10-tetrahydropyrene-2, 7- dicarboxylic acid, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, adenine, 4,4'-bypiridine, pyrimidine, pyrazine, 1 ,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane, pyridine-4-carboxylic acid, pyridine-3-carboxylic acid, imidazole, 1 /-/-benzimidazole, 2-methyl-1 H- imidazole, 4-methyl-5-imidazolecarboxaldehyde, 1 H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid, dihydroxy-1 ,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid, benzene-1 ,3, 5-tricarboxylic acid, 2-Acetamido-1 ,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid, 2-Nitro-1 ,4- benzenedicarboxylic acid .
In another embodiment, the at least organic ligand which is at least bidentate is a peptide. The process of the invention requires that a solvent is present for the reagents to form the MOF. The term "solvent" relates to individual solvents and also to mixtures of different solvents. The solvent can be any aqueous or non-aqueous solvent. In certain embodiments of the invention, mixtures of two or more solvents are used. In a particular embodiment, the solvent is selected from the group consisting of water, (C1 -C6)-alcohols, (C5-C7)- alkanes, alkenes, (C3-C8)-cycloalkanes, N, A/-di methyl formamide (DMF), Λ/,/V-diethyl formamide (DEF), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), dioxane,
chloroform, dichloromethane, diethyl ether, acetonitrile, toluene, benzene, tetrahydrofuran (THF), chlorobenzene, ethylene glycol, and mixtures thereof. Preferred alcohols are methanol, ethanol and isopropanol. Preferred alkanes are hexane, heptane and pentane. In a preferred embodiment the solvent is selected from water, ethanol, DMF and mixtures thereof.
In particular embodiments of the invention, the conditions for the activation step comprise water as the solvent, a contacting temperature comprised from from 80 to 1 15 °C and a contacting time comprise from 30 to 90 s. In other particular embodiments of the invention, the conditions for the activation step comprise water as the solvent, a contacting temperature comprised from from 80 to 100 °C and a contacting time comprise from 30 to 90 s. In another particular embodiment, the conditions for the activation step comprise ethanol as the solvent, a contacting temperature comprised from from 80 to 1 15 °C and a contacting time comprise from 30 to 90 s. In another particular embodiment, the conditions for the activation step comprise a mixture of water and ethanol as the solvent, a contacting temperature comprised from from 80 to 1 15 °C and a contacting time comprise from 30 to 90 s. After the activation step, the solution containing the activated reagents is directly sprayed into the spray-dryer, whereby the dry MOF crystals are obtained at mild conditions and short time (step b in the process of the invention). The reaction temperature of step b), that is, inside the spray dryer, can be comprised from 80 and 200 °C, more particularly between 100 and 180 °C, and still more particularly between 120 and 180 °C.
The reaction time is usually below 6 hours to obtain the dry product.
Preferably, the reaction time is between 3 minutes and 4 hours, more preferably between 5 minutes and 4 hours, more preferably between 7 minutes and 3 hours, more preferably between 8 minutes and 2 hours, more preferably between 9 minutes and 1 hour, and still more preferably between 10 minutes and 30 minutes.
The synthesis of MOFs may benefit from the presence of a base or an acid, since the base or the acid can further reduce the reaction time and/or the
reaction temperature and/or the crystallinity of the synthesized MOF. In the present invention the base or the acid is introduced in the activation step simultaneously with the reagent solution, just before the activated reagent solution is sprayed, or simultaneously with the activated reagent solution into the spray-dryer, preferably through a different nozzle. Thus, in one
embodiment, the process of the invention takes place in the presence of a base or an acid. In a particular embodiment the base or the acid is introduced in the activation step simultaneously with the reagent solution In principle any base or an acid can be used in the method of the invention. However, preferred bases or acids are selected from the group consisting of metal alkaline or earth alkaline hydroxides, amines, metal alkaline or earth alkaline carbonates, metal alkaline or earth alkaline acetates, pyridines, azoles, diazines, acetic acid, hydrochloric acid, formic acid, and mixtures thereof. Any regular spray dryer can be employed to produce dry crystalline MOFs according to the invention. Preferably, large industrial spray dryers are used. Such industrial spray dryers can produce very large quantities of MOFs according to the present method in surprisingly short times. The spray dryer must have as many nozzles as are required for the spraying of the reactants, solvents and, sometimes, the base or the acid. Usually, air is employed as the hot gas stream, however, other gases can be employed, such as nitrogen. Industrial spray dryers have large capacity drums for product collection.
Preferably, the spray dryer drum is coupled to a powder-removing device. The device removes the formed MOF powder at regular intervals, making place for newly synthesized MOF, such that the production must not be regularly stopped to empty the drum.
Further, different industrial devices may be employed for performing the activation step, so long as the activating conditions may be achieved inside the device. Preferably, the device for performing the contacting step is coupled to the spray dryer such that the process need not be discontinued before spray-drying. In one particular embodiment, the contacting step takes place inside a heated coil flow reactor which is coupled to the spray dryer. Altogether, the whole process of the invention, including activation, spray- drying and, optionally, the recollection of the dry-crystalline MOF, is preferably a continuous process.
The MOF crystals obtained by the process of the present invention have a high purity grade. Nevertheless it is typical for MOF products to be subjected to a purification step. Thus, in one embodiment, the process of the invention additionally comprises a purification step. Usually, this purification step comprises washing the MOF crystals with an appropriate solvent and drying. This purification step is also known as "extraction step" because it removes the solvent or other molecules that are retained in MOF pores. By washing the porous material with an appropriate solvent, the new solvent molecules replace whatever molecules had remained in the pores and are subsequently removed by a gentle evaporation process. The solvent used for extraction can be identical to or different from that used for the reaction of the at least one metal ion with the at least one organic ligand which is at least bidentate. As non-limiting suitable solvents for the purification or extraction step the following can be mentioned: water, methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, heptane, hexane, pentane, cyclohexane, alkenes, DMF, DEF, DMSO, dioxane, chloroform, dichloromethane, diethyl ether, acetonitrile, toluene, benzene, THF, chlorobenzene, ethylene glycol, and mixtures thereof. However, this purification step is not always required since the process of the invention may produce a sufficiently pure MOF.
The person skilled in the art is aware that the reaction parameters inside the spray dryer need to be optimized for each MOF product and each spray- dryer. For instance, reagent concentrations, choice of solvent, choice of base, gas spray flow, drying gas flow, feed flow and temperature, among others, are parameters to be adjusted. The spray-dryer being employed may also influence process parameters. The skilled person knows how to adjust the general parameters in order to obtain the required product.
Any MOF can be obtained by the process of the invention. However, as mentioned above, this process is particularly suitable for synthesis of MOFs which are based in complex and large SBUs, and which could not be prepared at all (or could not be prepared with good yields and/or good properties) by the state of the art spray-drying method. In particular, the process of the invention is suitable for obtaining MOFs pertaining to the series: UiO-66, MTV-UiO-66, [Ni8(OH)4(H2O)2(L)6]n, CPO-27-M (also known as MOF-74) and MIL-100. These MOFs require the activation step disclosed in the present application. Particular activating conditions for the preparation of
some of these MOFs follow below.
UiO-66 series Reagents: ZrCI4, ZrOCI2-8H2O, Zr(NO3)4 or Zr(SO4)2-4H2O and dicarboxylic acid. Preferably: ZrCI4, ZrOCI2-8H2O, Zr(NO3)4 or Zr(SO4)2-4H2O from 0.05 to 1 M and ligand from 0.05 to 0.6 M, preferably ZrCI4 and organic ligand at 0.1 M.
Solvent: DMF and H2O, preferably DMF:H2O from 11 .5:1 to 1 7.5: 1 , preferably 12.9:1 . When referring to solvent mixtures, the proportion (ratio) in which each solvent is present in the solvent mixture is expressed as
Solventl :Solvent2. For example a DMF:H2O = 12.9:1 means that for every
12.9 parts of DMF the mixture has 1 part of water.
Temperature: 105-120 °C, preferably 1 10-120 °C, preferably 1 15 °C.
Contacting time: 30-70 s, preferably 63 s.
Reagents: Ni(CH3COO)2-4H2O or Ni(NO3)2-6H2O and 1 H-pyrazole-4- carboxylic acid. Preferably: Ni(CH3COO)2-4H2O or Ni(NO3)2-6H2O from 0.01 to 0.1 M and 1 H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid from 0.01 to 0.1 M; in particular Ni(CH3COO)2-4H2O at 0.02 M and 1 H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid at 0.015 M; Solvent: DMF and H2O; preferably DMF:H2O from 1 :1 to 5.6:1 , preferably 4:1 Temperature: 90-1 10 °C, preferably 95-105 °C, preferably 100 °C
Contacting time: 30-70 s, preferably 63 s.
CPO-27-M series
Reagents: M(CH3COO)2, wherein M = Zn(ll), Co(ll), Ni(ll) and Cu(ll), or M(NO3)2, wherein M = Zn(ll), Co(ll), Ni(ll) and Cu(ll), and Dihydroxy-1 ,4- benzenedicarboxylic acid. Preferably: M(CH3COO)2 (M = Zn(ll), Co(ll), Ni(ll)) or Cu(NO3)2 2.5H2O from 0.1 M to 0.8 M and dihydroxy-1 ,4- benzenedicarboxylic acid from 0.05 M to 0.5 M; in particular metal salt at 0.2 M and Dihydroxy-1 ,4-benzenedicarboxylic at 0.1 M.
Solvent: DMF and H2O; preferably DMF:H2O from 3:1 to 1 :1 ; preferably DMF:H2O = 1 :1
Temperature: 80-100 °C, preferably 85-95 °C, preferably 90 °C
Contacting time: 30-70 s, preferably 63 s. MTV-UiO-66 series Reagents: ZrCI4, ZrOCI2-8H2O, Zr(NO3)4 or Zr(SO4)2-4H2O and dicarboxylic acid. Preferably: ZrCI4, ZrOCI2-8H2O, Zr(NO3)4 or Zr(SO4)2-4H2O from 0.05 to 1 M and dicarboxylic ligand from 0.05 to 0.6 M, in particular ZrCI4 and organic ligand at 0.1 M. Solvent: DMF and H2O, preferably DMF:H2O from 11 .5:1 to 17.5:1 , preferably 12.9:1 .
Temperature: 105-120 °C, preferably 1 10-120 °C, preferably 1 15 °C.
Contacting time: 30-70 s, preferably 63 s.
MIL-100 Reagents: Fe(NO3)3, FeCI3, or Fe3O(OAc)6CIO4 and benzene-1 ,3,5- tricarboxylic acid. Preferably: Fe(NO3)3, FeCI3 or Fe3O(OAc)6CIO4 from 0.05 to 1 M and benzene-1 ,3, 5-tricarboxylic acid from 0.05 to 0.6 M, in particular Fe(NO3)3 at 0.1 M and benzene-1 ,3, 5-tricarboxylic acid at 0.07 M.
Solvent: DMF
Temperature: 1 10-140 °C, preferably 135 °C
Contacting time: 30-90 s, preferably 63 s.
As shown in the figures 1 to 18, the MOFs obtained by the process of the invention may be in the form of spherical beads of size comprised from 0.1 to 100 μιτι. These beads possess surprisingly high MOF particle density. It is possible to tune the size of the obtained MOF beads to meet the requirements of their industrial application by varying some parameters of the spray drying process, in particular by varying the nozzle diameter in the spray dryer. Thus, for example, MOF beads of relatively bigger size (30-400 μιτι) that have no need of further shaping may be produced for gas storage applications. Alternatively, smaller beads (0.1 -30) μιτι may be provided for chromatographic applications. In certain embodiments, the spherical MOF beads of the invention have a size comprised from 0.5 to 100 μιτι, or from 0.1 to 10 μιτι, or from 0.5 to 50 μιτι, or from 1 to 100 μιτι, or from 1 to 50 μιτι.
Throughout the description and claims the word "comprise" and variations of the word, are not intended to exclude other technical features, additives,
components, or steps. Furthermore, the word "comprise" encompasses the case of "consisting of. Additional objects, advantages and features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the description or may be learned by practice of the invention. The following examples and drawings are provided by way of illustration, and they are not intended to be limiting of the present invention. Furthermore, the present invention covers all possible combinations of particular and preferred embodiments described herein. EXAMPLES
1. Spray-drying continuous flow-assisted synthesis of UiO-66 series.
In a typical synthesis, a solution 0.1 of ZrCI4 and 0.1 M of organic ligand in 15 ml_ of a mixture of DMF and H2O (5.48:1 ) was injected into a coil flow reactor (Pyrex tube, inner diameter: 3 mm) at a feed rate of 2.4 mL-min"1 and at a T-, of 115 °C. The resulting pre-heated solution was then spray-dried at a T2 of 180 °C and a flow rate of 336 mL-min"1 using a Mini Spray Dryer B-290 (BUCHI Labortechnik; spray cap of 0.5 mm of diameter hole). Finally, the collected solid was dispersed in DMF at room temperature under stirring overnight and precipitated by centrifugation. This process was repeated twice with ethanol instead of DMF. The final product was dried for 12 h at 80 °C under vacuum. Characterisation
X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) patterns were collected on an X'Pert PRO MPDP analytical diffractometer (Panalytical) at 45 kV, 40 mA using CuKa radiation (λ = 1 .5419 A). Nitrogen adsorption and desorption measurements were done at 77K using an Autosorb-IQ-AG analyser (Quantachrome
Instruments). Prior to the measurement Field-Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM) images were collected on a FEI Magellan 400L scanning electron microscope at an acceleration voltage of 1 .0-2.0 Kv, using aluminium as support.
1.1. Preparation of a Zr-benzene-1 ,4-dicarboxylic acid MOF (Zr-1 ,4-BDC, also known as UiO-66)
0.34 g of ZrCI4 (Sigma-Aldrich) in 7.0 mL of a mixture of dimethylformamide (DMF, Fisher Scientific) and water (VDMF:Vwater - 5.48:1 ) was added to a solution of 0.24 g of benzene-1 ,4-dicarboxylic acid (1 ,4-BDC, Sigma-Aldrich) in 8.0 mL of DMF. The resulting mixture was pumped at a feed rate of 2.4 mL-min"1 through the flow reactor (Pyrex tube, inner diameter: 3 mm, length: 100 mm) at a bath temperature of 1 15 °C. The pre-heated solution was spray dried on the Mini Spray Dryer B-290 (BUCHI labortechnik AG, Flawil, Switzerland) using a two-fluid nozzle at a gas spray flow of 26.25 m3-h"1, inlet air temperature of 180 °C, outlet air temperature of 120 °C, and with a spray cap with 0.5 mm-hole-size. After 6 minutes a white powder was collected. Then, the white powder was dispersed in 15 mL of DMF at room temperature under stirring for 12 h and then precipitated by centrifugation. This process was repeated twice with 15 mL of ethanol. The final product was dried for 12 h at 80 °C under vacuum.
Results UiO-66: Yield = 70 %; Purity = 54 %; SBET = 1106 m2-g"1. The figure 1 shows the scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) image of the spherical superstructure of Zr-1 ,4-BDC (also known as UiO-66) and their X- ray powder diffraction (XRPD) pattern, which gave diffraction peaks matching those of the simulated pattern of Zr-1 ,4-BDC (UiO-66) obtained by solvothermal method reported in the literature (Cavka, J. H., Jakobsen, S., Olsbye, U., Guillou, N., Lamberti, C, Bordiga, S., & Lillerud, K. P. "A new zirconium inorganic building brick forming metal organic frameworks with exceptional stability", Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2008, 130(42), 13850-13851 ), which demonstrates that the present process produced the same MOF.
1.2. Preparation of a Zr-2-amino-1 ,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid MOF (Zr- 1 ,4-BDC "NH2J also known as U 1O-66-N H2)
A solution of 0.34 g of ZrCI4 (Sigma-Aldrich) in 7.0 mL of a mixture of DMF (Fisher Scientific) and water (VDMF:Vwater - 5.48:1 ) was added to a solution of 0.27 g 2-amino-1 ,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid (Sigma-Aldrich) in 8.0 mL of DMF. The resulting mixture was pumped at a feed rate of 2.4 mL-min"1
through the flow reactor (Pyrex tube, inner diameter: 3 mm, length: 100 mm) at a bath temperature of 1 15 °C. The pre-heated solution was spray dried on the Mini Spray Dryer B-290 (BUCHI labortechnik AG, Flawil, Switzerland) using a two-fluid nozzle at a gas spray flow of 26.25 m3-h"1, inlet air temperature of 180 °C, outlet air temperature of 120 °C, and with a spray cap with 0.5 mm-hole-size. After 6 minutes a yellow powder was collected. Then, the yellow powder was dispersed in 15 mL of DMF at room temperature under stirring for 12 h and then precipitated by centrifugation. This process was repeated twice with 15 mL of ethanol. The final product was dried for 12 h at 80 °C under vacuum.
Results UiO-66-NH2: Y\e\0 = 67 %; Purity = 49 %; SBET = 752 m2-g"1.
The crystallinity and the phase purity were confirmed by PXRD (figure 2), showing that the Zr-1 ,4-BDC-NH2 (UiO-66-NH2) is isostructural with the bare UiO-66 reported in the literature (Cavka S. S. Y., et al, supra). The figure 2 shows Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) image for the material, revealing the formation of spherical superstructures created by the close packing of nanoparticles.
1.3. Preparation of a Zr-2-bromo-1 ,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid MOF (Zr- 1 ,4-BDC-Br, also known as UiO-66-Br)
A solution of 0.34 g of ZrCI4 (Sigma-Aldrich) in 7.0 mL of a mixture of DMF (Fisher Scientific) and water (VDMF:Vwater - 5.48:1 ) was added to a solution of 0.36 g of 2-bromo-1 ,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid (Sigma-Aldrich) in 8.0 mL of DMF. The resulting mixture was pumped at a feed rate of 2.4 mL-min"1 through the flow reactor (Pyrex tube, inner diameter: 3 mm, length: 100 mm) at a bath temperature of 115 °C. The pre-heated solution was spray dried on the Mini Spray Dryer B-290 (BUCHI labortechnik AG, Flawil, Switzerland) using a two-fluid nozzle at a gas spray flow of 26.25 m3-h"1, inlet air temperature of 180 °C, outlet air temperature of 120 °C, and with a spray cap with 0.5 mm-hole-size. After 6 minutes a white powder was collected. Then, the white powder was dispersed in 15 mL of DMF at room temperature under stirring for 12 h and then precipitated by centrifugation. This process was repeated twice with 15 mL of ethanol. The final product was dried for 12 h at 80 °C under vacuum.
Results UiO-66-Br: Yield = 68 %; Purity = 62 %; SBET = 527 m2-g"1.
The figure 3 shows the X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) pattern of the obtained Zr-1 ,4-BDC-Br compared with the simulated pattern of the bare UiO- 66 reported in the literature (Cavka S. S. Y, et al, supra). The patterns are identical, which demonstrates that the present process produced the same MOF. 1.4. Preparation of a Zr-2,5-dihydroxy-1 ,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid MOF (Zr-1 ,4-BDC-(OH)2)
0.34 g of ZrCI4 (Sigma-Aldrich) in 7.0 ml_ of a mixture of dimethylformamide (DMF, Fisher Scientific) and water (VDMF:Vwater - 5.48:1 ) was added to a solution of 0.30 g of 2,5-dihydroxy-1 ,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid (DHTP, Sigma-Aldrich) in 8.0 ml_ of DMF. The resulting mixture was pumped at a feed rate of 2.4 mL-min"1 through the flow reactor (Pyrex tube, inner diameter: 3 mm, length: 100 mm) at a bath temperature of 1 15 °C. The pre-heated solution was spray dried on the Mini Spray Dryer B-290 (BUCHI labortechnik AG, Flawil, Switzerland) using a two-fluid nozzle at a gas spray flow of 26.25 m3-h"1, inlet air temperature of 180 °C, outlet air temperature of 120 °C, and with a spray cap with 0.5 mm-hole-size. After 6 minutes a yellow powder was collected. Then, the yellow powder was dispersed in 15 mL of DMF at room temperature under stirring for 12 h and then precipitated by centrifugation. This process was repeated twice with 15 mL of ethanol. The final product was dried for 12 h at 80 °C under vacuum.
Results UiO-66-(OH)2: Y\e\0 = 81 %; Purity = 67 %; SBET = 401 m2-g"1. The figure 4 shows Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) image of the obtained superstructures and their X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) pattern compared with the bare UiO-66 reported in the literature (Cavka S. S. Y., et al, supra). The patterns are identical, which demonstrates that the present process produced the same MOF.
1.5. Preparation of a Zr-2,6-Naphthalenedicarboxylic Acid MOF (Zr-NDC)
A solution of 0.34 g of ZrCI4 (Sigma-Aldrich) in 7.0 mL of a mixture of DMF (Fisher Scientific) and water (VDMF:Vwater - 5.48:1 ) was added to a dispersion of 0.33 g of 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid (Sigma-Aldrich) in 8.0 mL of DMF. The resulting mixture was pumped at a feed rate of 2.4 mL-min"1 through the flow reactor (Pyrex tube, inner diameter: 3 mm, length: 100 mm) at a bath temperature of 1 15 °C. The pre-heated solution was spray dried on the Mini Spray Dryer B-290 (BUCHI labortechnik AG, Flawil, Switzerland) using a two-fluid nozzle at a gas spray flow of 26.25 m3-h"1, inlet air temperature of 180 °C, outlet air temperature of 120 °C, and with a spray cap with 0.5 mm-hole-size. After 6 minutes a white powder was collected. Then, the white powder was dispersed in 15 mL of DMF at room temperature under stirring for 12 h and then precipitated by centrifugation. This process was repeated twice with 15 mL of ethanol. The final product was dried for 12 h at 80 °C under vacuum.
Results UiO-66-2,6-NDC: Y\e\0 = 49 %; Purity = 37 %; SBET = 557 m2-g"1.
The figure 5 shows the X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) pattern of the obtained Zr-NDC and the simulated XRPD of the MOF (also known as MIL- 140-B) reported by Guillerm et al (Guillerm, V., Ragon, F., Dan-Hardi, M., Devic, T., Vishnuvarthan, M., Campo, B., Vimont, A., Clet, G., Yang, Q., Maurin, G., Ferey, G., Vittadini, A., Gross, S. and Serre, C. "A series of isoreticular, highly stable, porous zirconium oxide based metal-organic frameworks", Angewandte Chemie, International Edition, 2012, 51 (37), 9267- 9271 .) demonstrate that the MOF produced by the present process is identical to that described in the literature.
1.6. Preparation of a Zr-2-nitro-1 ,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid MOF (Zr- 1 ,4-BDC-Br, also known as UiO-66-N02)
A solution of 0.34 g of ZrCI4 (Sigma-Aldrich) in 7.0 mL of a mixture of DMF (Fisher Scientific) and water (VDMF:Vwater - 5.48:1 ) was added to a solution of 0.31 g of 2-nitro-1 ,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid (Sigma-Aldrich) in 8.0 mL of DMF. The resulting mixture was pumped at a feed rate of 2.4 mL-min"1 through the flow reactor (Pyrex tube, inner diameter: 3 mm, length: 100 mm) at a bath temperature of 115 °C. The pre-heated solution was spray dried on the Mini Spray Dryer B-290 (BUCHI labortechnik AG, Flawil, Switzerland)
using a two-fluid nozzle at a gas spray flow of 26.25 m3-h"1, inlet air temperature of 180 °C, outlet air temperature of 120 °C, and with a spray cap with 0.5 mm-hole-size. After 6 minutes a white powder was collected. Then, the white powder was dispersed in 15 mL of DMF at room temperature under stirring for 12 h and then precipitated by centrifugation. This process was repeated twice with 15 mL of ethanol. The final product was dried for 12 h at 80 °C under vacuum.
Results UiO-66-N02: Yield = 62 %; Purity = 49 %; SBET = 856 m2-g"1.
The figure 6 shows the X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) pattern of the obtained Zr-1 ,4-BDC-NO2 compared with the simulated pattern of the bare UiO-66 reported in the literature (Cavka S. S. Y, et al, supra). The patterns are identical, which demonstrates that the present process produced the same MOF.
1.7. Preparation of a Zr-2-acetamido-1 ,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid MOF (Zr-1 ,4-BDC-Acetamido, also known as UiO-66-Acetamido) A solution of 0.34 g of ZrCI4 (Sigma-Aldrich) in 7.0 mL of a mixture of DMF
(Fisher Scientific) and water (VDMF:Vwater - 5.48:1 ) was added to a solution of 0.27 g 2-acetamido-1 ,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid in 8.0 mL of DMF. The resulting mixture was pumped at a feed rate of 2.4 mL-min"1 through the flow reactor (Pyrex tube, inner diameter: 3 mm, length: 100 mm) at a bath temperature of 1 15 °C. The pre-heated solution was spray dried on the Mini Spray Dryer B-290 (BUCHI labortechnik AG, Flawil, Switzerland) using a two- fluid nozzle at a gas spray flow of 26.25 m3-h"1, inlet air temperature of 180 °C, outlet air temperature of 120 °C, and with a spray cap with 0.5 mm-hole- size. After 6 minutes a yellow powder was collected. Then, the yellow powder was dispersed in 15 mL of DMF at room temperature under stirring for 12 h and then precipitated by centrifugation. This process was repeated twice with 15 mL of ethanol. The final product was dried for 12 h at 80 °C under vacuum.
Results UiO-66-Acetamido: Yield = 51 %; Purity = 41 %; SBET = 586 m2-g"1
The crystallinity and the phase purity were confirmed by PXRD (figure 7), showing that the Zr-1 ,4-BDC-Acetamido (UiO-66-Acetamido) is isostructural
with the bare UiO-66 reported in the literature (Cavka S. S. Y., et al, supra). The figure 7 shows Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) image for the material, revealing the formation of spherical superstructures created by the close packing of nanoparticles.
1.8. Preparation of a Zr-1 ,4-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid MOF (Zr-1 ,4- NDC)
A solution of 0.34 g of ZrCI4 (Sigma-Aldrich) in 7.0 mL of a mixture of DMF (Fisher Scientific) and water (VDMF:Vwater - 5.48:1 ) was added to a dispersion of 0.32 g of 1 ,4-naphthalenedicarboxylic Acid (Sigma-Aldrich) in 8.0 mL of DMF. The resulting mixture was pumped at a feed rate of 2.4 mL-min"1 through the flow reactor (Pyrex tube, inner diameter: 3 mm, length: 100 mm) at a bath temperature of 1 15 °C. The pre-heated solution was spray dried on the Mini Spray Dryer B-290 (BUCHI labortechnik AG, Flawil, Switzerland) using a two-fluid nozzle at a gas spray flow of 26.25 m3-h"1, inlet air temperature of 180 °C, outlet air temperature of 120 °C, and with a spray cap with 0.5 mm-hole-size. After 6 minutes a white powder was collected. Then, the white powder was dispersed in 15 mL of DMF at room temperature under stirring for 12 h and then precipitated by centrifugation. This process was repeated twice with 15 mL of ethanol. The final product was dried for 12 h at 80 °C under vacuum.
Results UiO-66-1,4-NDC: Y\e\0 = 45 %; Purity = 45 %; SBET = 431 m2-g"1
The figure 8 shows the X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) pattern of the obtained Zr-1 ,4-NDC compared with the simulated pattern of the bare UiO-66 reported in the literature (Cavka S. S. Y, et al, supra). The patterns are identical, which demonstrates that the present process produced the same MOF.
2. Spray-drying continuous flow-assisted synthesis of [Ni8(OH)4(H20)2(L)6]n.
A solution 0.02 M of Ni(CH3COO)2-4H2O and 0.015 M of 1 H-pyrazole-4- carboxylic acid in 20 mL of a mixture of DMF and H2O (4:1 ) was injected into
the coil flow reactor (Pyrex tube, inner diameter: 3 mm) at a feed rate of 2.4 mL-min"1 and at a T-i of 100 °C. The resulting pre-heated solution was then spray-dried at a T2 of 180 °C and a flow rate of 336 mL-min"1 using a Mini Spray Dryer B-290 (BUCHI Labortechnik; spray cap of 0.5 mm of diameter 5 hole). Finally, the collected solid was dispersed in EtOH and precipitated by centrifugation. This two-step washing process was repeated with Et2O. The final product was dried for 12 h at 60 °C under vacuum.
Characterization of obtained MOFs was performed as described in example l o 1 .
Results for [Ni8(OH)4(H20)2(L)6]n Yield = 60 %; Purity = 81 %; SBET = 377
15 The figure 9 shows the X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) pattern of the obtained MOF, which gave diffraction peaks matching those of the simulated pattern of [Ni8(OH)4(H2O)2(L)6]n obtained by the method reported in the literature (Padial, N. M., E. Quartapelle Procopio, C. Montoro, E. Lopez, J. E. Oltra, V. Colombo, A. Maspero, N. Masciocchi, S. Galli, I. Senkovska, S.
20 Kaskel, E. Barea and J. A. R. Navarro. "Highly Hydrophobic Isoreticular
Porous Metal-Organic Frameworks for the Capture of Harmful Volatile Organic Compounds." Angewandte Chemie International Edition (2013) 52(32): 8290-8294.), which demonstrates that the present process produced the same MOF.
25
3. Continuous flow-spray drying synthesis of MTV-UiO-66
3.1 Preparation of the divariate UiO-66-(BDC-Br)0 5(BDC) .
A solution 0.1 M of ZrCI4, 0.066 M of BDC and 0.033 M of Br-BDC in 15 mL of
30 a mixture of DMF and H2O (12.9:1 ) was injected into the coil flow reactor
(Pyrex tube, inner diameter: 3 mm) at a feed rate of 2.4 mL-min"1 and at a T1 of 1 15 °C. The resulting pre-heated solution was then spray-dried at a T2 of 180 °C and a flow rate of 336 mL-min"1 using a Mini Spray Dryer B-290 (BUCHI Labortechnik; spray cap of 0.5 mm of diameter hole). Finally, the 35 collected solid was dispersed in DMF at room temperature under stirring overnight and precipitated by centrifugation. This process was repeated twice
with ethanol instead of DMF. The final product was dried for 12 h at 80 °C under vacuum.
Results UiO-66-(BDC-Br)0.5(BDC): Y\e\0 = 0.29 g; SBET = 818 m2 g 1
The crystallinity and the phase purity were confirmed by PXRD (figure 10), showing that the UiO-66-(BDC-Br)0.5(BDC) is isostructural with the bare UiO- 66 reported in the literature (Cavka S. S. Y., et al, supra). The figure 10 shows Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) image for the material, revealing the formation of spherical superstructures created by the close packing of nanoparticles.
3.2 Preparation of the divariate UiO-66-(BDC-Br)(BDC). A solution 0.1 M of ZrCI4, 0.05 M of BDC and 0.05 M of Br-BDC in 15 mL of a mixture of DMF and H2O (12.9:1 ) was injected into the coil flow reactor (Pyrex tube, inner diameter: 3 mm) at a feed rate of 2.4 mL-min"1 and at a T1 of 1 15 °C. The resulting pre-heated solution was then spray-dried at a T2 of 180 °C and a flow rate of 336 mL-min"1 using a Mini Spray Dryer B-290 (BUCHI Labortechnik; spray cap of 0.5 mm of diameter hole). Finally, the collected solid was dispersed in DMF at room temperature under stirring overnight and precipitated by centrifugation. This process was repeated twice with ethanol instead of DMF. The final product was dried for 12 h at 80 °C under vacuum. Results UiO-66-(BDC-Br)(BDC): Yield = 0.33 g; SBET = 678 m2 g 1
The crystallinity and the phase purity were confirmed by PXRD (figure 1 1 ), showing that the UiO-66-(BDC-Br)(BDC) is isostructural with the bare UiO-66 reported in the literature (Cavka S. S. Y., et al, supra). The figure 1 1 shows Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) image for the material, revealing the formation of spherical superstructures created by the close packing of nanoparticles.
3.3 Preparation of the divariate UiO-66-(BDC-Br)2(BDC). A solution 0.1 M of ZrCI4, 0.033 M of BDC and 0.066 M of Br-BDC in 15 ml_ of a mixture of DMF and H2O (12.9:1 ) was injected into the coil flow reactor (Pyrex tube, inner diameter: 3 mm) at a feed rate of 2.4 mL-min"1 and at a T1
of 1 15 °C. The resulting pre-heated solution was then spray-dried at a T2 of 180 °C and a flow rate of 336 nriL-min" using a Mini Spray Dryer B-290 (BUCHI Labortechnik; spray cap of 0.5 mm of diameter hole). Finally, the collected solid was dispersed in DMF at room temperature under stirring overnight and precipitated by centrifugation. This process was repeated twice with ethanol instead of DMF. The final product was dried for 12 h at 80 °C under vacuum.
Results UiO-66-(BDC-Br)2(BDC): Y\e\0 = 0.31 g; SBET = 570 m2 g 1
The crystallinity and the phase purity were confirmed by PXRD (figure 12), showing that the UiO-66-(BDC-Br)2(BDC) is isostructural with the bare UiO-66 reported in the literature (Cavka S. S. Y., et al, supra). The figure 12 shows Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) image for the material, revealing the formation of spherical superstructures created by the close packing of nanoparticles.
3.3 Preparation of the trivariate UiO-66-(BDC-Br)(BDC)(NH2-BDC). A solution 0.1 M of ZrCI4, 0.015 M of BDC, 0.015 M of NH2-BDC and 0.015 M of Br-BDC in 15 mL of a mixture of DMF and H2O (5.48:1 ) was injected into the coil flow reactor (Pyrex tube, inner diameter: 3 mm) at a feed rate of
2.4 mL min and at a T1 of 1 15 °C. The resulting pre-heated solution was then spray-dried at a T2 of 180 °C and a flow rate of 336 mL min"1 using a Mini Spray Dryer B-290 (BUCHI Labortechnik; spray cap of 0.5 mm of diameter hole). Finally, the collected solid was dispersed in DMF at room temperature under stirring overnight and precipitated by centrifugation. This process was repeated twice with ethanol instead of DMF. The final product was dried for 12 h at 80 °C under vacuum.
Results UiO-66-(BDC-Br)(BDC)(NH2-BDC): Yield = 0.35 g; SBET = 707 m2 g 1
The crystallinity and the phase purity were confirmed by PXRD (figure 13), showing that the UiO-66-(BDC-Br)(BDC)(NH2-BDC) is isostructural with the bare UiO-66 reported in the literature (Cavka S. S. Y., et al, supra). The figure 13 shows Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) image for the material,
revealing the formation of spherical superstructures created by the close packing of nanoparticles.
4. Spray-drying continuous flow-assisted synthesis of Fe-benzene-1 ,3,5- tricarboxylic acid MOF (Fe-1 ,3,5-BTC)
0.62 g of Fe(NO3)3-9H2O (Sigma-Aldrich) in 7.5 mL of dimethylformamide (DMF, Fisher Scientific) was added to a solution of 0.21 g of benzene-1 ,3,5- tricarboxylic acid (1 ,3,5-BTC, Sigma-Aldrich) in 7.5 mL of DMF. The resulting mixture was pumped at a feed rate of 2.4 mL-min"1 through the flow reactor (Pyrex tube, inner diameter: 3 mm, length: 100 mm) at a bath temperature of 135 °C. The pre-heated solution was spray dried on the Mini Spray Dryer B- 290 (BUCHI labortechnik AG, Flawil, Switzerland) using a two-fluid nozzle at a gas spray flow of 26.25 m3/h, inlet air temperature of 180 °C, outlet air temperature of 120 °C, and with a spray cap with 0.5 mm-hole-size. After 6 minutes an orange powder was collected. Then, the orange powder was dispersed in 50 mL of H2O at 100 °C under stirring for 12 h and then precipitated by centrifugation. This process was repeated twice with 15 mL of ethanol at 70 °C. The final product was dried for 12 h at 70 °C under vacuum.
The yield was 0.25 g (78 % w/w). The specific surface area (BET method) was 1039 m2-g"1.
The X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) pattern (figure 14) of the MOF confirms that the solid obtained by the present process is comparable to that commercially available Basolite F300.
5. Continuous flow-spray drying synthesis of CPO-27-M series. In a typical synthesis, a solution 0.2 of the metal salt and 0.1 M of 2,5- dihydroxy-1 ,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid in 10 ml of a mixture of DMF and H2O (1 :1 ) was injected into the coil flow reactor (Pyrex tube, inner diameter: 3 mm) at a feed rate of 2.4 mL-min"1 and at a T-, of 90 °C. The resulting pre-heated solution was then spray-dried at a T2 of 180 °C and a flow rate of 336 mL-min" 1 using a Mini Spray Dryer B-290 (BUCHI Labortechnik; spray cap of 0.5 mm of diameter hole). Finally, the collected solid was dispersed in DMF at room temperature under stirring overnight and precipitated by centrifugation. This
process was repeated twice with methanol instead of DMF. The final product was dried for 12 h at 80 °C under vacuum.
5.1. Preparation of a Zn-2,5-dihydroxy-1 ,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid MOF (Zn-MOF-74/CPO-27-Zn)
0.44 g of Zn(CH3COO)2-2H2O (Sigma-Aldrich) in 5.0 mL of water was added to a solution of 0.19 g of 2,5-dihydroxy-1 ,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid (dhtp, Sigma-Aldrich) in 5.0 mL of DMF (Fisher Scientific). The resulting mixture was pumped at a feed rate of 2.4 mL-min"1 through the flow reactor (Pyrex tube, inner diameter: 3mm, length: 100 mm) at a bath temperature of 90 °C. The pre-heated solution was spray dried on the Mini Spray Dryer B-290 (BUCHI labortechnik AG, Flawil, Switzerland) using a two-fluid nozzle at a gas spray flow of 26.25 m3-h"1, inlet air temperature of 180 °C, outlet air temperature of 120 °C, and with a spray cap with 0.5 mm-hole-size. After 4 minutes a yellow powder was collected. Then, the yellow powder was dispersed in 15 mL of DMF at room temperature under stirring for 12 h and then precipitated by centrifugation. This process was repeated twice. Then, the powder was dispersed in 15 mL of methanol at room temperature under stirring for 12 h and then precipitated by centrifugation. This process was repeated three times. The final product was dried for 12 h at 80 °C under vacuum.
Results CPO-27-Zn: Yield: 0.26 g (72 % w/w), SBET = 1170 m2-g"1. The X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) pattern (figure 15) of the MOF (also known as Zn-MOF-74) confirm that the solid obtained by the present process is identical to the Zn-MOF-74 synthesized by the solvothermal method reported in the literature (Rosi N. L., Kim J., Eddaoudi M., Chen B., O'Keeffe M., Yaghi O. M. "Rod packings and metal-organic frameworks constructed from rod-shaped secondary building units", Journal of the American Chemical
Society 2005, 127, 1504-1518.).
5.2. Preparation of a Co-2,5-dihydroxy-1 ,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid MOF (CPO-27-Co)
0.50 g of Co(CH3COO)2-4H2O (Sigma-Aldrich) in 5.0 mL of water was added to a solution of 0.19 g of 2, 5-dihydroxy-1 ,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid (dhtp,
Sigma-Aldrich) in 5.0 mL of DMF. The resulting mixture was pumped at a feed rate of 2.4 mL-min"1 through the flow reactor (Pyrex tube, inner diameter: 3 mm, length: 100 mm) at a bath temperature of 90 °C. The pre-heated solution was spray dried on the Mini Spray Dryer B-290 (BUCHI labortechnik AG, Flawil, Switzerland) using a two-fluid nozzle at a gas spray flow of 26.25 m3-h" inlet air temperature of 180 °C, outlet air temperature of 120 °C, and with a spray cap with 0.5 mm-hole-size. After 4 minutes an orange powder was collected. Then, the orange powder was dispersed in 15 mL of DMF at room temperature under stirring for 12 h and then precipitated by centrifugation. This process was repeated twice. Then, the powder was dispersed in 15 mL of methanol at room temperature under stirring for 12 h and then precipitated by centrifugation. This process was repeated three times. The final product was dried for 12 h at 80 °C under vacuum. Results CPO-27-Co: Yield: 0.25 g (73 % w/w), SBET = 943 m2-g"1.
The figure 16 shows the X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) pattern of the obtained MOF (also known as CPO-27-Co) compared with the simulated pattern of the CPO-27-Co reported in the literature (Dietzel, P. D. C, Morita, Y., Blom, R., & Fjellvag, H. "An In Situ High-Temperature Single-Crystal
Investigation of a Dehydrated Metal-Organic Framework Compound and Field-Induced Magnetization of One-Dimensional Metal-Oxygen Chains", Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2005, 44(39), 6354-6358). The patterns are identical, which demonstrates that the present process produced the same MOF.
5.3. Preparation of a Ni-2,5-dihydroxy-1 ,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid MOF (CPO-27-Ni) A solution of 0.50 g of Ni(CH3COO)2-4H2O (Sigma-Aldrich) in 5.0 mL of water was added to a solution of 0.19 g of 2,5-dihydroxy-1 ,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid (dhtp, Sigma-Aldrich) in 5.0 mL of DMF. The resulting mixture was pumped at a feed rate of 2.4 mL-min"1 through the flow reactor (Pyrex tube, inner diameter: 3 mm, length: 100 mm) at a bath temperature of 90 °C. The pre-heated solution was spray dried on the Mini Spray Dryer B-290 (BUCHI labortechnik AG, Flawil, Switzerland) using a two-fluid nozzle at a gas spray flow of 26.25 m3-h"1, inlet air temperature of 180 °C, outlet air temperature of
120 °C, and with a spray cap with 0.5 mm-hole-size. After 4 minutes a brown powder was collected. Then, the brown powder was dispersed in 15 mL of DMF at room temperature under stirring for 12 h and then precipitated by centrifugation. This process was repeated twice. Then, the powder was dispersed in 15 mL of methanol at room temperature under stirring for 12 h and then precipitated by centrifugation. This process was repeated three times. The final product was dried for 12 h at 80 °C under vacuum.
Results CPO-27-Ni: Yield: 0.18 g (54 % w/w), SBET = 837 m2-g"1.
The figure 17 shows the X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) pattern of the obtained MOF, which gave diffraction peaks matching those of the simulated pattern of CPO-27-Ni obtained by solvothermal method reported in the literature (Dietzel, P. D. C, Panella, B., Hirscher, M., Blom, R., & Fjellvag, H. "Hydrogen adsorption in a nickel based coordination polymer with open metal sites in the cylindrical cavities of the desolvated framework", Chemical Communications 2006, (9), 959-959), which demonstrates that the present process produced the same MOF. 5.4. Preparation of a Cu-2,5-dihydroxy-1 ,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid MOF (Cu-MOF-74, also called CPO-27-Cu)
A solution of 0.47 g of Cu(NO3)2-2.5H2O (Sigma-Aldrich) in 5.0 mL of water was added to a solution of 0.19 g of 2,5-dihydroxy-1 ,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid (dhtp, Sigma-Aldrich) in 5.0 mL of DMF. The resulting mixture was pumped at a feed rate of 2.4 mL-min"1 through the flow reactor (Pyrex tube, inner diameter: 3mm, length: 100 mm) at a bath temperature of 90 °C. The pre-heated solution was spray dried on the Mini Spray Dryer B-290 (BUCHI labortechnik AG, Flawil, Switzerland) using a two-fluid nozzle at a gas spray flow of 26.25 m3-h"1, inlet air temperature of 180 °C, outlet air temperature of
120 °C, and with a spray cap with 0.5 mm-hole-size. After 4 minutes a dark brown powder was collected. Then, the dark brown powder was dispersed in 15 mL of DMF at room temperature under stirring for 12 h and then precipitated by centrifugation. This process was repeated twice. Then, the powder was dispersed in 15 mL of methanol at room temperature under stirring for 12 h and then precipitated by centrifugation. This process was
repeated three times. The final product was dried for 12 h at 80 °C under vacuum.
Results CPO-27-Cu: Yield: 0.12 g (38 % w/w), SBET = 973 m2-g"1.
The crystallinity and the phase purity were confirmed by PXRD (figure 18), showing that the obtained MOF is isostructural with the Zn-MOF-74 reported in the literature (Rosi N., et al, supra), which demonstrates that the present process produced the same MOF.
6. Preparation of a Zr-2-Amino-1 ,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid MOF (Zr- 1 ,4-BDC-NH2, also known as UiO-66-NH2) with water as solvent.
A solution of 1 .70 g of ZrOCI2-8H2O (Sigma-Aldrich) in 6.0 mL of water was added to a dispersion of 0.87 g of 2-Amino-1 ,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid (Sigma-Aldrich) in 6.0 mL of Water. Then, 12 mL of Glacial Acetic acid (Sigma-Aldrich) was added to the mixture. The resulting dispersion was pumped at a feed rate of 2.4 mL min"1 through the flow reactor (Pyrex tube, inner diameter: 3 mm, length: 100 mm) at a bath temperature of 90 °C. The pre-heated solution was spray dried on the Mini Spray Dryer B-290 (BUCHI labortechnik AG, Flawil, Switzerland) using a two-fluid nozzle at a gas spray flow of 26.25 m3/h, inlet air temperature of 150 °C, outlet air temperature of 100 °C, and with a spray cap with 0.5 mm-hole-size. After 10 minutes a yellow powder was collected. Then, the yellow powder was dispersed in 15 mL of Ethanol and then precipitated by centrifugation. This process was repeated three times. Then, the powder was dispersed in 15 mL of Ethanol at room temperature under stirring for 12 h and then precipitated by centrifugation. This process was repeated once with 15 mL of acetone. The final product was dried for 12 h at 80 °C.
Results UiO-66-NH2: Y\e\0 = 83 %; SBET = 1148 m2 g 1.
The crystallinity and the phase purity were confirmed by PXRD (figure 20), showing that the Zr-1 ,4-BDC-NH2 (UiO-66-NH2) is isostructural with the bare UiO-66 reported in the literature (Cavka S. S. Y., et al, supra). The figure 20 shows Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) image for the material, revealing
the formation of spherical superstructures created by the close packing of nanoparticles.
7. Preparation of a Zr-Fumaric acid MOF (Zirconium fumarate MOF, also known as MOF-801)
A solution of 0.64 g of ZrOCI2-8H2O (Sigma-Aldrich) in 3.5 mL of water was added to a dispersion of 0.24 g fumaric acid in 3.5 mL of water. Then, 3 mL of glacial acetic acid (Sigma-Aldrich) was added to the mixture. The resulting dispersion was pumped at a feed rate of 2.4 mL min"1 through the flow reactor (Pyrex tube, inner diameter: 3 mm, length: 120 mm) at a bath temperature of 90 °C. The pre-heated solution was spray dried on the Mini Spray Dryer B- 290 (BUCHI labortechnik AG, Flawil, Switzerland) using a two-fluid nozzle at a gas spray flow of 26.25 m3/h, inlet air temperature of 140 °C, outlet air temperature of 100 °C, and with a spray cap with 0.5 mm-hole-size. After 4 minutes a white powder was collected. Then, the white powder was dispersed in 40 mL of water at room temperature under stirring for 12 h and then precipitated by centrifugation. This process was repeated twice with 40 mL of ethanol. The final product was dried for 12 h at 80 °C.
Results MOF-801 : Yield = 54 %; SBET = 540 m2-g"1
The figure 21 shows the scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) image of the spherical superstructure of zirconium fumarate and their X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) pattern, which gave diffraction peaks matching those of the simulated pattern of MOF-801 obtained by solvothermal method reported in the literature (H. Furukawa, F.Gandara, Y-B. Zhang, J. Jiang, W. Queen, M. Hudson, and O. Yaghi "Water Adsorption in Porous Metal-Organic Frameworks and Related Materials", Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2014, 136(1 1 ), 4369-4381 ), which demonstrates that the present process produced the same MOF.
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