Accelerated Synthesis of a Ni₂Cl₂(BTDD) Metal–Organic Framework in a Continuous Flow Reactor for Atmospheric Water Capture

Atmospheric water capture (AWC) has tremendous potential to address the global shortage of clean drinking water. The Ni2Cl2(BTDD) metal–organic framework (MOF) shown optimal sorption performance under low relative humidity conditions, but its potentially high production costs, stemming in part from lengthy multiday synthesis, hindered widespread implementation. As with most traditional MOF syntheses, original synthesis involves batch reactors that have intrinsic inefficiencies impacting productivity during scale-up. We report a continuous manufacturing process for can achieve higher yields, reduced solvent use, and drastically faster crystallization times comparison process. Optimization space flow reactor as function residence time, temperature, volume yields 50% 40% reductions methanol hydrochloric acid consumption by volume, respectively, simultaneous 3-fold increase (defined units kgMOF m–3day–1). A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model was developed quantitate enhancements based on improved heat-transfer rates, larger surface-area ratios, effective times. This work adds critical facets growing body research suggesting MOFs offers unique opportunities reduce costs.