Lab Cooked MOF for CO2 Capture: A Sustainable Solution to Waste Management

To understand critical problems associated with solid waste and its consequences for the environment, a laboratory experiment is presented on the synthesis of aluminum-based metal–organic framework (MOF) MIL-53(Al) from household waste (PET bottles and aluminum foil/can), for undergraduate students of chemistry. This work is designed to teach students the research methodology and basic understanding of MOFs and their application in carbon capture and storage (CCS). Students also learnt several instrumentation techniques such as UV–vis spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction (P-XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and gas sorption to characterize the physicochemical properties of MIL-53(Al). The facile production of MIL-53(Al) enabled the students to investigate its applicability in CO2 sorption. The calculations of essential parameters such as CO2 over N2 selectivity and the use of statistical tools in data processing are also explained to the students. In the end, the instructor presented his/her feedback by evaluating the answer sheets (pre- and postlab work) and by demonstrating the overall lab work through a model presentation.