Fluorinated MOF platform for selective removal and sensing of SO(2) from flue gas and air

Conventional SO(2) scrubbing agents, namely calcium oxide and zeolites, are often used to remove SO(2) using a strong or irreversible adsorption-based process. However, adsorbents capable of sensing and selectively capturing this toxic molecule in a reversible manner, with in-depth understanding of structure–property relationships, have been rarely explored. Here we report the selective removal and sensing of SO(2) using recently unveiled fluorinated metal–organic frameworks (MOFs). Mixed gas adsorption experiments were performed at low concentrations ranging from 250 p.p.m. to 7% of SO(2). Direct mixed gas column breakthrough and/or column desorption experiments revealed an unprecedented SO(2) affinity for KAUST-7 (NbOFFIVE-1-Ni) and KAUST-8 (AlFFIVE-1-Ni) MOFs. Furthermore, MOF-coated quartz crystal microbalance transducers were used to develop sensors with the ability to detect SO(2) at low concentrations ranging from 25 to 500 p.p.m.