Cages for Chemical Separations
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Cambridge
Department Name: Chemistry
Abstract
Fine chemicals are used as building blocks for many of the products that we rely upon, from pharmaceuticals to plastics. These molecules are isolated from mixtures that are often derived from petroleum. This isolation process can be challenging, generally involving distillation, a process which requires substantial energy input. A key aim of this project is to develop a new and more energy-efficient separation technology involving metal-organic cages. These cages are known to encapsulate various small organic compounds based on size and shape. The current project will develop new means of programming the behaviour of these cages, so that they will pick up and release these 'guest' molecules in response to the stimuli of light and heat. These cages will then be built into systems that enable cages to pick up high-value molecules from feedstocks, such as petroleum. The cages and cargoes will be pumped into a space where their molecular cargo is released in pure form, allowing the cages to be recycled in a closed-loop purification process. We anticipate that this process will allow the separation of valuable molecules with higher energy efficiency and lower cost than current methods.
Planned Impact
As it will directly address the high energy cost of chemical purification, our research will have an impact on industry and the general public.
Industry: Our research will develop a new chemical purification method, benefiting chemical industry, its sub-sectors and the UK chemical supply chains. Our aim is to isolate small organic compounds with a higher selectivity at lower energy cost and minimise carbon dioxide emissions. Intellectual property (IP) will be protected and exploited in accordance with the policy of the University of Cambridge. After the protection of all relevant IP, dissemination will be through publication in high impact journals and presentation at national and international conferences.
General Public: Attention from the public to supramolecular chemistry has been increasing in recent years with the recognition of potential technological applications such as new materials. Our group's work has been highlighted in international journals (including Nature and Science). By addressing a key current societal challenge, we aim to mitigate the damage being done to the climate by excessive energy use and CO2 emission during chemical purification.
Industry: Our research will develop a new chemical purification method, benefiting chemical industry, its sub-sectors and the UK chemical supply chains. Our aim is to isolate small organic compounds with a higher selectivity at lower energy cost and minimise carbon dioxide emissions. Intellectual property (IP) will be protected and exploited in accordance with the policy of the University of Cambridge. After the protection of all relevant IP, dissemination will be through publication in high impact journals and presentation at national and international conferences.
General Public: Attention from the public to supramolecular chemistry has been increasing in recent years with the recognition of potential technological applications such as new materials. Our group's work has been highlighted in international journals (including Nature and Science). By addressing a key current societal challenge, we aim to mitigate the damage being done to the climate by excessive energy use and CO2 emission during chemical purification.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
| Jonathan Nitschke (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Zheng J
(2023)
Redox Triggers Guest Release And Uptake Across A Series of Azopyridine-Based Metal-Organic Capsules.
in Advanced materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
Zheng J
(2022)
Host Spin-Crossover Thermodynamics Indicate Guest Fit.
in Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)
Zheng J
(2022)
Host Spin-Crossover Thermodynamics Indicate Guest Fit
in Angewandte Chemie
Yang Y
(2023)
Fluoride up- and down-regulates guest encapsulation for ZnII6L4 and ZnII4L4 cages
in Chem
Yang Y
(2023)
Hetero-Diels-Alder Reaction between Singlet Oxygen and Anthracene Drives Integrative Cage Self-Sorting
in Journal of the American Chemical Society
Xue W
(2023)
Subtle Stereochemical Effects Influence Binding and Purification Abilities of an FeII4L4 Cage.
in Journal of the American Chemical Society
Xue W
(2022)
Solvent Drives Switching between ? and ? Metal Center Stereochemistry of M8L6 Cubic Cages.
in Journal of the American Chemical Society
Wu K
(2023)
A Diverse Array of Large Capsules Transform in Response to Stimuli.
in Journal of the American Chemical Society
Ryan HP
(2023)
Quantifying the Effect of Guest Binding on Host Environment.
in Journal of the American Chemical Society
Nguyen BT
(2021)
Coordination Cages Selectively Transport Molecular Cargoes Across Liquid Membranes.
in Journal of the American Chemical Society
McTernan CT
(2022)
Beyond Platonic: How to Build Metal-Organic Polyhedra Capable of Binding Low-Symmetry, Information-Rich Molecular Cargoes.
in Chemical reviews
Liu H
(2023)
Anionic Templates Drive Conversion between a Zn II 9 L 6 Tricapped Trigonal Prism and Zn II 6 L 4 Pseudo-Octahedra
in Journal of the American Chemical Society
Greenfield JL
(2022)
Self-Assembly of Double-Helical Metallopolymers.
in Accounts of chemical research
Ghosh A
(2023)
Light-Powered Reversible Guest Release and Uptake from Zn4L4 Capsules.
in Journal of the American Chemical Society
Espinosa C
(2023)
Secondary Bracing Ligands Drive Heteroleptic Cuboctahedral Pd II 12 Cage Formation
in Journal of the American Chemical Society
Davies J
(2022)
Twisted rectangular subunits self-assemble into a ferritin-like capsule
in Chem
Clark S
(2023)
A Double-Walled Tetrahedron with Ag I 4 Vertices Binds Different Guests in Distinct Sites**
in Angewandte Chemie
Clark S
(2023)
A Double-Walled Tetrahedron with Ag I 4 Vertices Binds Different Guests in Distinct Sites**
in Angewandte Chemie International Edition
Carpenter JP
(2022)
Incorporation of a Phosphino(pyridine) Subcomponent Enables the Formation of Cages with Homobimetallic and Heterobimetallic Vertices.
in Journal of the American Chemical Society