Metal–Organic Frameworks Polyurethane Composite Foams for the Capture of Volatile Organic Compounds

Composites of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) in polyurethane foams (PUF) are reported to adsorb polar or apolar volatile organic compounds (VOCs), avoiding the problems usually found when handling MOFs in the powder form. MOF/PUF composites were prepared using MIL-160(Al) and UiO-66(Zr)-(CF3)2 via one step process where the MOFs particles are incorporated during the foam matrix formation. Under adjusted conditions, the composite materials maintained the shape and characteristics of the MOF material, good mechanical stability, and good accessibility to the pores without significantly compromising the VOCs adsorption capacity for hexane, acetone, methanol, toluene, and acetic acid. This methodology proved the possibility of incorporating high amounts of shaped MOF particles, reaching 200% (w/w) of foam, upon maintaining a considerable open-cell volume percentage (32%). As an application perspective, we demonstrate that the composites can overcome the challenge of acetic acid capture in the presence of ambient moisture with a similar performance to the pure MOF. Thus, VOCs capture through MOF/polyurethane foam composites is a promising environmental technology to eliminate air pollutants.