Structural Tailoring of Metal–Organic Framework (MOF) Pellets for Enhanced H2S Adsorption

Abstract The elimination of H2S is important for the efficiency of energy production and safety due to its high corrosion and toxicity. While metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have emerged as promising candidates for H2S adsorption, there remains a critical gap between discovery and industrial deployment. This study bridges the scalability gap of MOFs in this field by tailoring the structure of MIL-53(Al) pellets, investigating how pelletization variables dictate structural characteristics and H2S adsorption performance. By elucidating the impact of the pelletization process, this research contributes to the transition of MOF-based technologies from laboratory-scale experimentation to industrial application. We find that pellets comprising 80 wt % MIL-53(Al) and 20 wt % binder, which were subjected to calcination at 400 oC, are beneficial for reversible adsorption of H2S thanks to the maximized surface area and rigid structure. This MOF/binder ratio also enables an uninterrupted extrusion process. Furthermore, exploring various crosslinking agents identifies Fe3+ as a vital additive. This ionic crosslinker not only facilitates the pelletization of MIL-53(Al) but also enhances H2S removal efficiency by inducing partial amorphization and generating additional active sites. Overall, the findings in our work provide guidance for further research on engineering MOFs into macrostructure forms for H2S removal as well as H2S-related applications in practice.