Tubular metal–organic framework-based capillary gas chromatography column for separation of alkanes and aromatic positional isomers

In this work, a tubular metal–organic framework, MOF-CJ3, with a large one-dimensional channel was chosen as stationary phase to prepare a capillary gas chromatographic column via a verified dynamic coating procedure. The column offered good separations of linear and branched alkanes, as well as aromatic positional isomers (ethylbenzene, xylene, cresol, hydroquinone, dichlorobenzene, bromobenzonitrile, chloronitrobenzene, and nitrotoluene) based on a combination of host–guest interactions and adsorption effects. Elution sequence of most of the analytes followed an increasing order of their boiling points, except for the separation of n-heptanes/isooctane, cresol, and hydroquinone isomers. Separation behavior of the column upon different organic substances may be related to the tubular pore structure of MOF-CJ3, in which the van der Waals forces between the alkanes and the hydrophobic inner surfaces might have great effect on separation of n-heptanes and isooctane, whereas the separation of cresol and hydroquinone isomers were affected by (OH⋯O) hydrogen bonds formed between the analytes and the 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylate ligands on the pore wall. The effects of temperature on separation of aromatic positional isomers were investigated to elucidate entropy and enthalpy controlling of the separation process.