SÍNTESIS Y CARACTERIZACIÓN DE REDES METAL ORGÁNICAS (MOFs) PARA LA PURIFICACIÓN DE AGUA

Abstract

The present research project is focused on the synthesis and characterization of a metal-organic framework (MOF) to control water’s physical and chemical properties as follows: • Softness: 0ppm ≤ x ≤ 150ppm • pH: 7.4 ≤ x ≤ 8.5 • Chlorine: no Cl In addition, such MOF must inactivate pathogenic microorganisms and it should have a competitive market price. If needed, a DFSS analysis is to be performed in order to keep under control MOF’s cost as well as to identify those significant variables to it. Research begins by analyzing molecular properties of those common materials that are currently used for water purification: silica sand, activated carbon and cathionic resins. Unique characteristics will be identified for each one of the mentioned materials. Such characteristics are to be known as “Molecular structural strengths” (MSS). Such MSS’s will help to identify structural patterns of current filtering materials (based on their filtering capacities). It is foreseen to develop a MOF that could satisfy filtering requirements based on MSS’s. SEM analyses were performed for each one of the different synthesized MOFs. Microbiological analyses (total coliforms) were performed to water samples in order to contrast non-filtered water results with those of MOF-filtered water. Chlorine presence in water samples was obtained from non-filtered water and MOF-filtered water sample. Results were tracked along the duration of the current project. The current thesis was written and presented to the consideration of the UAEMex Doctorate Academic Comission of Materials Science. It is considered to patent the obtained MOF.