Abstract: Metal organic framework (MOF) of MIL-101(Cr)-Silica (SiO₂) composites with highly mesoporous and uniform dispersions were synthesized by a microwave-assisted hydrothermal method followed by the sol-gel technique. Water vapor adsorption experiments were conducted on the MIL-101(Cr)-SiO₂ composites for industrial adsorption chiller applications. The effects of MIL-101(Cr)-SiO₂ mixing ratios (ranging from 0% to 52%), the surface area and amount of Lewis and Brønsted sites were comprehensively determined through water vapor adsorption experiments and the adsorption mechanism is also explained. The BET and Langmuir results indicate that the adsorption isotherms associated with the various MIL-101(Cr)-SiO₂ ratios demonstrated Type I and IV adsorption behavior, due to the mesoporous structure of the MIL-101(Cr)-SiO₂. It was observed that the increase in the amount of Lewis and Brønsted sites on the MIL-101(Cr)-SiO₂ composites significantly improves the water vapor adsorption efficiency, for greater stability during the water vapor adsorption experiments.
Keywords: adsorbent; metal organic framework composites; microwave-assisted hydrothermal technique; sol-gel method.