Speaker
Description
Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are porous coordination polymers characterized by high surface areas and broad application potential, particularly in biomedicine. However, their conventional synthesis often relies on dangerous organic solvents such as N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMA), and N,N-diethylformamide (DEF)[1, 2]. Among these materials, MIL-53 (Fe) was selected as a model system due to its typical dependence on DMF-based synthesis routes, which limits its sustainability and suitability for biomedical applications[3].
In this study, greener synthesis routes for MIL-53 (Fe) were investigated using aqueous systems incorporating different non-ionic surfactants, including Pluronic F68, Pluronic F127, and PVP K30. The choice of non-ionic surfactants was motivated by their comparatively lower environmental impact, being generally considered among the greenest classes of surfactants due to their lower toxicity, higher biodegradability, and reduced ecological footprint compared to the ionic alternatives. Experimental conditions were systematically varied by tuning surfactant concentration in solution, reaction temperature, and reaction time, alongside a comprehensive environmental evaluation. Life cycle assessment (LCA) was employed to quantify environmental impacts across the production process, providing a systematic framework for sustainability assessment[4].
Unlike conventional approaches, LCA was integrated during the experimental development stage rather than applied post-optimization, enabling iterative improvements while maintaining process flexibility. Selected synthesis methods were benchmarked against a conventional route to identify key environmental hotspots. The LCA model was developed using a cradle-to-gate system boundary and the Environmental Footprint 3.1 method. The results identified the washing steps as a major contributor to the overall environmental burden.
Overall, the hotspot analysis enabled the identification of critical process steps where targeted optimization can effectively reduce environmental impacts. Importantly, these improvements were achieved without compromising the properties of MIL-53 (Fe). These findings highlight the value of integrating LCA at early stages of MOF development to guide more sustainable synthesis design.
- Annamalai, J., et al., Synthesis of various dimensional metal organic frameworks (MOFs) and their hybrid composites for emerging applications–a review. Chemosphere, 2022. 298: p. 134184.
- Howarth, A.J., et al., Best practices for the synthesis, activation, and characterization of metal–organic frameworks. Chemistry of Materials, 2017. 29(1): p. 26–39.
- Wang, B., et al., Ordered mesoporous metal-organic frameworks directed by amphiphilic block polymer as soft-template in N, N-dimethylformamide media. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 2025. 691: p. 137380.
- Maklavany, D.M., et al., Eco-environmental analysis of different routes for the synthesis of MIL-53 (Fe): an integrated life cycle assessment and life cycle cost approaches. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 2023. 11(26): p. 9816–9832.
