Poster Presentation Royal Australian Chemical Institute National Congress 2026

Metal-organic frameworks with tunable pore sizes for critical element separation (#301)

Danyang Pan 1 , Deanna M D'Alessandro 1
  1. The University of Sydney, The University Of Sydney, NSW, Australia

Rapid advancements in electronic manufacturing have led to a substantial increase in electronic waste (E‑waste). Consequently, the recovery of critical elements such as rare earth elements (REEs) from E‑waste is an area of growing importance.1 Achieving high‑purity separation of REEs remains extremely challenging due to their nearly identical physical and chemical properties, their tendency to coexist with other metal ions, and the limitations of conventional solvent‑extraction processes.2

In this study, we investigate the design and synthesis of a zirconium Metal-Organic Framework (MOF) by tailoring its coordinating groups and functionality to precisely control the pore properties.3 We subsequently evaluate its performance in achieving separation of REEs, with the goal of advancing MOF‑based strategies for critical‑element recovery. Therefore, we demonstrate how rational design and functional modification can realise MOFs that can selectively capture specific REEs, enabling more effective and environmental benign separation.

  1. Peng, Y., Zhu, P., Zou, Y., Gao, Q., Xiong, S., Liang, B., & Xiao, B. (2024). Overview of Functionalized Porous Materials for Rare-Earth Element Separation and Recovery. Molecules, 29(12), 2824. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29122824
  2. Asadollahzadeh, M., Torkaman, R., & Torab-Mostaedi, M. (2021). Extraction and separation of rare earth elements by adsorption approaches: current status and future trends. Separation & Purification Reviews, 50(4), 417-444.
  3. Liang, W., Chevreau, H., Ragon, F., Southon, P. D., Peterson, V. K., & D’Alessandro, D. M., Tuning pore size in a zirconium–tricarboxylate metal–organic framework. CrystEngComm, 2014, 16(29), 6530–6533.