Metal Organic Frameworks (MOFs) and CO2: A chemical approach for the environmental issue

• Grant number: 16/03266-0
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: May 01, 2017
• End date: April 30, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Inorganic Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Regina Celia Galvao Frem
• Grantee: Regina Celia Galvao Frem
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Leandro Pierroni Martins ; Maria Valnice Boldrin

Abstract

Carbon dioxide is one of the more important gases responsible for greenhouse. Today global emissions of CO2 are in the order of 49 billion tons. In this context, the goal of this project is to develop two different strategies so they can, in the near future, constitute in alternative methods for the carbon dioxide reduction in the atmosphere. The first of them focuses on the synthesis of ethylene glycol once the classic method for its production, via reaction between epoxide and ROH group, consumes a lot of water and energy. The alternative proposal is to substitute epoxide by carbonate one, prepared through CO2 cycloaddition, which in turn it will be converted into ethylene glycol via ethoxylation reaction. Electro-photocatalysis experiments will be also realized in the project in order to promote the reduction of CO2 in combustible materials (methane, methanol) and/or high-value compounds (formic acid, formaldehyde). Highly porous and selective materials named Metal Organic Frameworks (MOFs) will catalyze both of processes. MOFs are polymeric coordination compounds in which metallic clusters are connected by organic spacers and whose catalytic potential occurs by the presence of active metal sites and by the possibility of modify the porous of the material. A series of MOFs with high CO2 adsorption capacities will be prepared for this propose. (AU)