Date of Award
2016
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelors
Department
Natural Sciences
First Advisor
Sherman, Suzanne
Area of Concentration
Chemistry
Abstract
The Haber-Bosch process is well known as a popular industrial process for nitrogen fixation and ammonia synthesis. Consuming up to 5% of the world’s natural gas production and 1-2% of the world’s energy production, this single process is both expensive and energy intensive. Current research is directed at designing new catalysts that can operate under more ambient conditions. An unexplored yet promising area of research is in metal-organic frameworks—extended structures that are highly porous— because of their effectiveness at adsorbing gases. In this study, we attempted to synthesize multiple different M-MOF-74 (M = iron(II), manganese(II), and zinc(II)) compounds. This was followed by an attempt to synthesize vanadium(II) MOF-74, a promising metal-organic framework that may effectively adsorb and activate nitrogen gas. The synthesis of iron(II) MOF-74 was unsuccessful, and that of manganese(II) MOF-74 was apparently successful but not verified. The FTIR spectra of the products of the zinc and vanadium MOF-74 syntheses suggest the formation of a zinc-containing MOF-74 and a vanadium-containing MOF-74. The oxidation state of vanadium in the vanadium MOF-74 could not be verified. Further characterization of this compound is needed before its properties can be explored.
Recommended Citation
Powell, Devon, "The Search for an Alternative to the Haber-Bosch Process: Towards the Synthesis of a Novel Metal-Organic Framework for Nitrogen Activation" (2016). Theses & ETDs. 6484.
https://digitalcommons.ncf.edu/theses_etds/6484