Driving success through
MOF innovation

In a world where global challenges such as climate change, poverty, and inequality are ever-present, the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have emerged as a beacon of hope for a more sustainable and equitable future. Enacted in 2015 as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the SDGs encompass a wide array of crucial global issues, ranging from eradicating poverty and hunger to fostering sustainable economic growth and combating climate change. Achieving these goals is not only the responsibility of governments but also of industries worldwide. In this blog, we will explore the role of one remarkable innovation, Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs), in helping industries contribute to the achievement of the SDGs. Achieving Sustainable Development Goals      Five of the most interlinked Sustainable Development Goals are SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 13 (Climate Action). These goals address critical global challenges, such as ensuring access to clean and safe water, transitioning to sustainable energy sources, promoting responsible consumption and production patterns, and mitigating the impacts of climate change. Industries play a central role in all these aspects. Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS): SDG 13 specifically calls for action to combat climate change and its impacts. This is where CCS comes into play. CCS technology involves capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from industrial processes and storing them safely to prevent their release into the atmosphere, thereby curbing global warming. Clean Energy: SDG 7 seeks to ensure affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all. Achieving this goal is intrinsically linked with developing clean and renewable energy sources, which can significantly reduce carbon emissions, thus contributing to SDG 13. Clean Water Technologies: SDG 6 ensures water and sanitation availability and sustainable management. Industries are vital in developing innovative clean water technologies to enhance access to clean water and improve sanitation. Responsible Consumption and Production: SDG 12 promotes sustainable consumption and production patterns. Industries must reduce waste generation, implement sustainable practices, and minimize environmental impact. Sustainable Cities and Communities: SDG 11 focuses on creating inclusive, safe, sustainable cities and communities. Industries can contribute to this goal by adopting sustainable practices, reducing pollution, and promoting resource-efficient urbanization. MOFs: A Platform Technology  MOFs, or Metal-Organic Frameworks, have emerged as a groundbreaking class of materials with a wide range of applications in various industries. MOFs are composed of metal ions or clusters linked by organic molecules, forming a porous, crystalline structure with an incredibly high surface area. This unique structure allows MOFs to exhibit exceptional characteristics, making them suitable for numerous purposes: MOFs in Carbon Capture and Storage: MOFs can efficiently capture and separate CO2 from industrial flue gases. MOFs' high surface area and tunable properties make them ideal for selectively adsorbing CO2 while allowing other gases to pass through. By employing MOFs, industries can reduce their carbon footprint, aiding the achievement of SDG 13. MOFs in Clean Energy: MOFs play a pivotal role in energy storage and conversion. They can be used for hydrogen storage, a critical component in clean fuel cell technology. Additionally, MOFs can serve as efficient catalysts for various energy conversion reactions, such as converting carbon dioxide into valuable products or storing renewable energy as hydrogen. MOFs in Clean Water Technologies: MOFs can also help address water-related SDGs. Their adsorption capabilities can be harnessed for water purification, heavy metal removal, and desalination. By utilizing MOFs, industries can contribute to SDG 6 by enhancing clean water access and sustainability. MOFs in Responsible Consumption and Production: MOFs can play a role in sustainable practices. They can be employed in processes that reduce waste generation, promote resource efficiency, and align with the principles of SDG 12. MOFs in Sustainable Cities and Communities: MOFs can support sustainable urbanization by aiding in pollution control, resource efficiency, and sustainable industrial practices, thus contributing to SDG 11.   Utilizing MOFs for Industrial Impact MOFs' unique properties and versatility make them a valuable asset for industries striving to achieve the SDGs. Industries can integrate MOFs into their operations, particularly in sectors related to energy production, carbon-intensive processes, and clean water technologies. By doing so, they can reduce their environmental impact, drive innovation, and create economic opportunities aligned with the SDGs. SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) underscores the significance of inclusive and sustainable industrialization for global development. MOFs, as a technology platform of highly-versatile materials, can significantly contribute to this goal. By enabling industries to innovate, reduce their environmental footprint, and foster sustainability, MOFs play a pivotal role in achieving SDG 9, which is crucial for the broader success of the Sustainable Development Goals. In conclusion, MOFs are a game-changing innovation with the potential to drive sustainable industrial practices, contributing to SDGs 6, 7, 11, 12, and 13. As industries harness the power of MOFs, they align with global sustainability targets and advance the cause of multiple SDGs, propelling us closer to a more sustainable world. 

In a world increasingly gripped by the urgency of climate change, the quest for innovative solutions to combat rising carbon dioxide (CO2) levels is paramount. The consequences of unchecked greenhouse gas emissions, such as extreme weather events and rising sea levels, underscore the pressing need to reduce our carbon footprint. Amid this challenge, carbon capture technologies have emerged, offering a means to reduce greenhouse gas emissions significantly. Among these technologies, Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) have raised the potential to revolutionize the landscape of carbon capture. In this blog, we will investigate why MOFs garner attention as a novel and promising alternative for carbon capture, their diverse applications in various industries, and how they might hold the key to a sustainable future. How MOFs Work: The Art of Carbon Capture     MOFs, short for Metal-Organic Frameworks, are crystalline materials composed of metal ions or clusters connected by organic molecules, creating a structure with nanoscale pores. These pores act as molecular traps, capable of selectively capturing gases, including CO2. Imagine MOFs as high-tech sponges, each with a unique structure tailored to capture specific gases with remarkable efficiency. The Versatility of MOFs in Carbon Capture  MOFs offer a versatile solution for carbon capture, with applications spanning various phases of the process: Post-Combustion Capture: In this phase, flue gases loaded with CO2 pass through MOF-based materials, where the MOFs selectively adsorb the CO2, reducing emissions significantly. Pre-Combustion Capture: Pre-combustion capture is a technique employed in processes like gasification, where carbon-containing fuels (like coal or biomass) are converted into synthetic gas (syngas) before combustion. MOFs can help selectively capture CO2 from the syngas, purifying the syngas to its main components of carbon monoxide and hydrogen for further synthetic use (methanol synthesis, ammonia synthesis via Haber-Bosch process, hydroformylations or Fischer-Tropsch processes). Direct Air Capture (DAC): DAC is an approach that extracts CO2 directly from the ambient air. With their high selectivity and tunable properties, MOFs play a crucial role in this emerging technology. DAC powered by MOFs has the potential to actively reduce atmospheric CO2 levels, contributing to global efforts to combat climate change. A Game-Changer for Carbon Capture MOFs hold several advantages over traditional carbon capture materials and methods. Their exceptional porosity, tunability, and capacity for selective gas adsorption make them extraordinarily efficient. MOFs are versatile and adaptable, suitable for diverse applications across various industries. Their potential to lower energy requirements for carbon capture and reduce costs has captured the attention of researchers, engineers, and policymakers alike. Industries Benefiting from MOF-Enhanced Carbon Capture  In the following table, various MOF applications for carbon capture are summarized: Carbon Capture Phase Application Industry Beneficiaries Post-Combustion Capture Power plants, industries Energy generation, heavy manufacturing Pre-Combustion Capture Gasification, syngas Chemical processing, synthetic fuels Direct Air Capture (DAC) Ambient air Global carbon mitigation efforts Biogas Power Generation Anaerobic digestion Renewable energy, waste management The implementation of MOFs in carbon capture technology holds promise for several industries, including: Energy Generation: Power plants, especially those using fossil fuels, can significantly reduce carbon footprint by integrating MOF-enhanced post-combustion carbon capture systems. Chemical Manufacturing: The chemical industry, known for substantial CO2 emissions, can benefit from MOF-enabled carbon capture, leading to more sustainable processes. Transportation Fuels: MOFs can optimize the production of synthetic fuels, reducing the carbon intensity of transportation fuels. Construction: By integrating MOFs into building materials like concrete, CO2 can be captured and stored, promoting carbon-neutral construction practices. If you are interested in knowing more about MOFs and their advantages for carbon capture, here is the list of our blog series dedicated to carbon capture, where you can find more details of the performance of MOFs and MOF-based materials in comparison to other materials and methods used for carbon capture: Energy-efficient CO2 capture and release using magnetic materials Circular economy: Tackling challenges with novel materials Carbon enrichment with decentralized biogas utilization Challenges and new opportunities in biogas upgrading Sorption technologies for biogas upgrading MOF-based membranes for biogas upgrading MOFs for carbon capture and release Tackle Climate Change with MOFs Environment protection with MOFs Energy-efficient carbon capture Why MOFs outperform amine scrubbing? MOFs vs. Calcium looping for carbon capture MOFs vs. other porous materials for carbon capture MOFs vs. other advanced materials for carbon capture Reducing the economic impact of carbon emissions  

Carbon-negative processes are crucial for achieving carbon neutrality goals to mitigate climate change. Several carbon capture technologies exist to capture carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from sources such as power plants, industrial facilities, and even directly from the atmosphere. Implementing carbon capture technologies to existing processes would make removing carbon dioxide possible to achieve a carbon-negative status. Here, we will show how solid porous materials offer solutions for carbon capture in existing facilities. What are carbon-negative solutions?    Carbon-negative solutions integrate methods and technologies that remove more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than is released in a process. This means there is a CO2 generation process, typically related to combustion and a subsequent carbon capture step. Achieving a carbon-negative status implies that the net carbon dioxide balance should be favored in the removal process. Achieving the carbon-negative balance The carbon capture step is crucial when designing a carbon-negative solution, and some features like capture efficiency and energy efficiency must be considered. Among carbon capture technologies, amine scrubbing, calcium looping, and adsorption-based methods stand out due to their high capture efficiency. However, amine scrubbing and calcium looping are energy-intensive processes which lead to them being unsuitable for a carbon-negative solution. Alternatively, adsorption-based carbon capture using porous solid materials is a promising technology. Different porous solid materials, such as zeolites, carbon-based materials, and Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) can be used for the carbon capture step in adsorption-based technologies. Among these materials, MOFs are the most novel materials that have shown outstanding carbon capture results even under adverse conditions typically found in flue gas streams, including high humidity levels and low CO2 partial pressure. Carbon-negative solutions using MOFs MOFs have applications in several carbon removal strategies, including Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), Direct Air Capture (DAC), Carbon Utilization (CCU), and Carbon Conversion (CCC). Implementing MOF technology in such strategies can include more than one step. One example of a carbon-negative strategy is Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS). BECCS combines bioenergy production with carbon capture and storage. Biomass is burned for heat and electricity production. The CO2 released is captured and stored, resulting in a net removal of CO2 from the atmosphere. Research and development in carbon-negative technologies drive innovation and create new opportunities for sustainable economic growth. MOFs will help to face challenges, including technological feasibility, scalability, and cost-effectiveness. For instance, MOFs can be used for biogas upgrading, the primary goal of which is to remove impurities, such as carbon dioxide (20-40%) and trace contaminants from the raw biogas. Removing a significant portion of CO2 from the biogas mixture increases the methane content, improving the calorific value. In this step, MOFs offer advantages like simple operation, low energy consumption, and ease of scalability due to their superior selectivity and stability when used in membrane technology. While biogas power generation offers a greener energy option, the process is not entirely without carbon emissions. Carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere during combustion. In this step, MOFs can be implemented for post-combustion carbon capture from the flue gases of the power plant. The flue gases are treated to remove carbon dioxide before release, reducing the carbon footprint of the plant significantly. MOFs offer enhanced stability, good selectivity, and lower energy requirements compared to absorption technologies. Implementing multiple carbon capture steps using MOFs can favor the carbon dioxide balance to a negative balance. After the carbon dioxide is captured and stored in MOFs, it can be released for its conversion into value-added chemicals or fuels, closing the carbon loop for sustainability and enabling the circular economy of carbon capture. The advantages of MOFs come from their unique chemical structure. Different features can be controlled during their synthesis, including pore size, channel topology, and surface chemical reactivity, enhancing their robustness and thermal and chemical stability. Among carbon capture technologies, MOF-based technologies can deliver a sustainable and economical solution to achieve carbon-negative processes. If you have an interest in MOFs, including their design and synthesis, feel free to reach out to us. We're here to assist you in finding the optimal solution for your needs.