Ethylene is a plant hormone emitted by produce that regulates ripening, and its selective capture provides a practical strategy for extending shelf life and controlling post‑harvest quality. Coordination polymers, also known as metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), offer a versatile platform for gas sorption due to their tunable pore structures and chemical functionality. In this study, we investigate a family of zinc‑based coordination polymers constructed from phenolic carboxylate ligands, which form robust frameworks featuring well‑defined square channels. These materials, previously shown to adsorb gases such as CO₂, CH₄, and N₂, are explored here for their ability to uptake ethylene and their potential application as ethylene scavengers in real‑world storage and transport environments.
Among the materials studied, zinc 4‑hydroxybenzoate (Znhba) exhibits significant ethylene adsorption at ambient temperature, reaching approximately 3.1 mmol g⁻¹ at 1000 kPa and 2.4 mmol g⁻¹ at 100 kPa at 298 K, with uptake increasing at lower temperatures. Consecutive sorption experiments reveal a modest decrease in uptake, indicative of strong host–guest interactions between ethylene and the framework. Notably, the original adsorption capacity is fully restored following thermal treatment at 473 K, demonstrating the reversibility and robustness of the material. These findings highlight Znhba as a promising candidate for ethylene capture and storage, with potential implications for the controlled management of fruit and vegetable ripening.