Porous metal complexes that are useful for separating a specific gas from a mixed gas have been developed. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a porous metal complex in which the characteristics of both a gate-type polymer complex exhibiting open-gate type gas adsorption and an type-I complex exhibiting type-I gas adsorption are changed by a switching material. In addition, Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 3 describe a porous metal complex that only selectively adsorbs a specific gas accompanying a change in pore structure or size. Moreover, Patent Document 3 and Non-Patent Document 1 describe a flexible porous metal complex, which changes its structure depending on the type of gas contacted thereby, and a gas separation method using that porous metal complex. The term “porous” described herein refers to a metal complex having a special structure at the molecular level (voids) of a size that can accommodate and release hydrocarbon molecules as target adsorbates. In the case of a metal complex having a flexible structure, the shape and/or size of voids may change due to a structural change caused by pressure or other external stimulus.
However, these documents do not specifically describe the form of a porous metal complex in the case of using in an actual industrial separation process. In addition, although Patent Document 4 describes a molded article composed of a porous metal complex and a binder, the binder is an inorganic compound and there is no description relating to the effects of the binder on the adsorption and desorption behavior of the molded article.
USPTO Backgrounds
USPTO Backgrounds