Direct factory supply of high-surface-area crystalline powders for academic research, industrial scale-up, and green tech deployment.
A comprehensive material science analysis of Aluminum Trimesate (MIL-100 Al), its structural topology, hydrothermal robustness, and green industrial scale-up paradigm.
MIL-100 (Al), systematically known as Aluminum Trimesate, represents one of the most structurally fascinating and commercially viable porous coordination polymers within the Material of Institut Lavoisier (MIL) series. Built from inorganic trimeric aluminum octahedra $[Al_3O(OH)_3]$ clusters bridged by organic 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylate (BTC) linkers, MIL-100(Al) forms a rigid, highly porous 3D hierarchical framework possessing an MTN-type zeolitic topology.
What sets MIL-100(Al) apart from conventional microporous zeolites and activated carbons is its dual-mesoporous cage system. The framework encapsulates two distinct sets of mesoporous cages:
This unique hierarchy allows MIL-100(Al) to deliver massive Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) specific surface areas typically exceeding 1,800 to 2,200 m²/g alongside pore volumes reaching 0.9 to 1.2 cm³/g. The presence of unsaturated aluminum Lewis acid sites upon thermal activation further provides exceptionally strong binding affinities for polar guest molecules, carbon dioxide, and atmospheric moisture.
Unlike many copper or zinc-based MOFs (such as HKUST-1 or MOF-5) which suffer structural collapse upon exposure to ambient humidity, the strong covalent-ionic trivalent aluminum-oxygen bonds ($Al^{3+}-O$) impart superior hydrolytic stability to MIL-100(Al). It can withstand boiling water, acidic ambient environments, and repeated thermal desorption cycles up to 280°C without framework degradation.
When procuring commercial-grade MIL-100 (Al) powders or engineered extrudates, technical procurement teams must mandate rigorous characterization data. Below is the standard quality inspection matrix guaranteed by top-tier suppliers:
| Physical / Chemical Parameter | Standard Lab Grade | Industrial Premium Grade (KARGEN Standard) | Testing Protocol / Instrument |
|---|---|---|---|
| BET Specific Surface Area | 1600 - 1800 m²/g | > 2100 m²/g | $N_2$ Adsorption Isotherm (77K) / BET Model |
| Total Pore Volume | 0.85 cm³/g | 1.05 - 1.18 cm³/g | Single Point Adsorption ($p/p_0 = 0.99$) |
| Crystalline Phase Purity | > 92% | > 98.5% (Phase Pure) | Powder X-ray Diffraction (PXRD, Cu-Kα) |
| Thermal Stability Ceiling | 240°C | Up to 280°C (Air / $N_2$) | Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) |
| Average Particle Size ($D_{50}$) | Customized (1 - 50 µm) | Sub-micron (500 nm) to Pelletized (2-4 mm) | Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) / Laser Diffraction |
| Residual Solvent Content | < 2.5% | < 0.3% (Green Water-wash Protocol) | GC-MS / TGA Vacuum Activation |
Quantifiable advantages of leveraging advanced Chinese green-synthesis infrastructure for global MOF sourcing.
Unlocking cost efficiency, raw material integration, and continuous manufacturing technology.
China commands over 70% of global industrial capacity for organic ligands, specifically 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid (Trimesic Acid / BTC). Direct backward integration with domestic precursor factories drastically cuts key linker costs, insulating global purchasers from supply chain volatility.
Traditional western synthesis routes rely on high-cost organic solvents (e.g., DMF, HF additions). Leading Chinese suppliers utilize eco-friendly, aqueous hydrothermal reaction routes or solvent-free continuous mechanochemical ball-milling. This drastically lowers environmental footprint and waste-disposal costs.
Every ton-scale batch undergoes automated digital screening via high-resolution Powder X-ray Diffraction (PXRD), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), and Nitrogen Sorption Analyzer. Certificate of Analysis (COA) compliance is strictly tied to shipment releases.
Moving from powder to practical implementation requires advanced post-processing. Suppliers provide extruded honeycombs, binder-free granules (1-3 mm), membrane spray-coatings, and specialized dispersions tailored for industrial contactor beds.
How global enterprises integrate MIL-100(Al) to solve extreme engineering challenges across green energy, HVAC, and environmental remediation.
MIL-100(Al) demonstrates a classic S-shaped water sorption isotherm with a steep adsorption step occurring between 20% and 40% relative humidity ($RH$). This profile makes it exceptionally suited for solar-driven Atmospheric Water Harvesting in arid regions, as well as low-grade waste-heat adsorption chillers. It desorbs water efficiently at mild temperatures (<70°C), significantly reducing energy overhead.
With its high density of open metal sites and tuned micropore windows, MIL-100(Al) exhibits strong affinity for $CO_2$ molecules over $N_2$ and $CH_4$. In industrial flue gas scrubbing and biogas upgrading, MIL-100(Al) structured beds yield impressive cyclic capacity while requiring lower regeneration enthalpy compared to liquid amine solvents (MEA/DEA).
Industrial emissions containing aromatic hydrocarbons (benzene, toluene, xylene) or polar solvents (acetone, ethyl acetate) pose severe environmental challenges. MIL-100(Al)'s hydrophobic/hydrophilic dual-nature cages selectively sequester VOC vapors even in humid air, outperforming standard activated carbon in non-combustible safety and life-cycle longevity.
Due to the intrinsic non-toxicity of aluminum and trimesic acid, MIL-100(Al) is widely investigated for pharmaceutical encapsulation. Its large cages can host substantial payloads of therapeutic molecules, bio-enzymes, or agrochemicals, delivering controlled-release profiles under physiological pH conditions.
From initial laboratory evaluation samples to commercial multi-ton contract supply.
Submit your desired application specs, target surface area, operating temperature, and required physical form (powder/granule).
Receive 1g to 100g verification lots accompanied by complete XRD, BET, and TGA analytical certificates for lab testing.
Formulation tuning including grain size distribution, moisture pre-activation, pelletization with inorganic binders, or liquid suspension development.
Full-scale production run with global hazardous/non-hazardous logistics compliance, export documentation, and custom packaging options.
Get instant answers to critical procurement, chemical compatibility, and scaling questions.
MIL-100 (Al) offers an ideal inflection point in its water adsorption isotherm around 20-30% relative humidity, allowing high working capacity with exceptionally low regeneration temperatures (60°C - 80°C). While ZIF-8 is strongly hydrophobic and MIL-101 requires higher desorption energy, MIL-100(Al) balances hydrolytic stability, non-toxicity, and low energy overhead for desiccant HVAC systems and atmospheric water harvesting.
Yes. Raw MIL-100(Al) powder can be binderless-compacted or combined with 2-5 wt% inorganic binders (such as colloidal silica or aluminum oxide) via extrusion or spherical granulation. While binder addition slightly reduces mass-specific BET area by a corresponding percentage, engineered pellets preserve structural microporosity, drastically reduce system pressure drops, and eliminate mechanical dusting in industrial flow beds.
MIL-100(Al) is shipped in vacuum-sealed double-layer PE bags placed inside moisture-proof fiber drums or heavy-duty aluminium foil bags with desiccant packs. Under sealed ambient conditions, it maintains full structural integrity indefinitely. Prior to industrial deployment, pre-activation at 120°C - 150°C under nitrogen purge or vacuum for 4 hours is recommended to remove ambient moisture adsorbed during handling.
Western chemical catalog vendors typically sell MIL-100(Al) at laboratory markups ranging from $50 to $150 per gram. Sourcing directly from an established Chinese industrial supplier lowers cost structures by up to 90-95% on multi-kilogram to ton-scale orders, bringing prices into commercially viable brackets for large-scale carbon capture, HVAC, and industrial gas purification projects.
Yes. Our engineering services include mixed-metal node functionalization (e.g., Fe/Al or Cr/Al hybrid nodes), organic ligand functionalization (such as $-NH_2$ or $-NO_2$ groups on the BTC linker), and nano-particle impregnation (e.g., Pd, Pt, or Ag metal nanoparticles) to tailor catalysis or specific gas selectivities.
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