Nicolas Sadovnik’s thesis defence: Élimination du formaldéhyde par adsorbants recyclables de type MOFs

Thesis defense:Monday, May 17th at 9 a.m. by visio-conference

Jury: 

Mme Bordiga Silvia – Professeur – Université de Turin

Ameloot Rob – Professeur – Université Leuven
M. De Weireld Guy – Professeur – Université de Mons
M. Maurin Guillaume – Professeur des universités – Université de Montpellier
Mme Mintova Svetlana – Directeur de recherche au CNRS – Université Caen Normandie

Direction: 

M. Marco Daturi – Professeur des universitiés – Université Caen Normandie

M. Christian Serre – Directeur de recherche au CNRS – École Normale Supérieure, École Supérieure de Physique et de Chimie Industrielles de Paris

Title: Élimination du formaldéhyde par adsorbants recyclables de type MOFs

Keywords: MOFs, VOC, formaldehyde, IR spectroscopy, adsorption, active sites.

Abstract: Formaldehyde is a highly toxic and carcinogenic volatile organic compound, very present in confined areas. The aim of this thesis is to study the efficiency of a series of porous materials to eliminate gaseous formaldehyde by adsorption, then to analyze interaction modes occurring during the adsorption of this molecule, in order to develop anti-pollution processes in workspaces, homes or hospitals. Based on previous work available and due to the limited efficiency of current processes, our choice fell on MOFs (Metal-Organic Frameworks). Therefore, in this thesis, the formaldehyde removal performance of commercial or specifically designed in laboratory MOFs, has been investigated using different techniques and compared with reference activated carbons: (i) breakthrough tests (dynamic adsorption), (ii) closed reactor, (iii) environmental chamber, (iv) characterizations (PXRD, N₂ physisorption at 77 K and in situ adsorption of formaldehyde). Extensive studies were subsequently carried out, in the light of the first information obtained.

Our results reveal that a category of specific MOFs are able to interact with formaldehyde through chemisorption, thus ensuring its efficient capture (increased adsorption capacity, absence of re-emission phenomena at temperatures close to ambient), including in the presence of humidity and offering a possibility to be regenerated with a protocol for home use.