A Scalable Ultramicroporous Coordination Network for Ethylene Separation from the Quaternary Mixture

Adsorptive ethylene separation from the C₂H₂/C₂H₄/C₂H₆/CO₂ four-component gas mixture provides a low-energy input solution for industrial ethylene purification, yet it is still a great challenge. Herein, we report a facile scaled-up synthesis of a stable ultramicroporous coordination network of Zn-CO₃-datz (Hdatz = 3,5-diamine-1,2,4-triazole), which enables selective adsorption of C₂H₂, C₂H₄ and CO₂ over C₂H₄, thanks to its specific pore environment supported by GCMC simulation of gas adsorption sites. Dynamic breakthrough experiments exhibited efficient one-step production of polymer-grade (≥99.95%) C₂H₄ from the quaternary C₂H₄/C₂H₂/C₂H₆/CO₂ (1/1/1/1) mixture, with excellent C₂H₄ productivity of 0.12 mol kg^-1 at 298 K. Moreover, it can be easily synthesized in kilogram scale with an affordable and low-cost ligand, rendering its further potential industrial applications.