How Supercritical Ethane Makes Better ZIF-8 Membranes

Scientists have been trying to find the best way to make ZIF-8 membranes strong enough for industrial use. These membranes are really good at separating two important gases, C3H6 and C3H8. A recent study found that using supercritical ethane, scC2H6, to make these membranes might be the answer. Supercritical ethane is a special state of ethane that's neither a gas nor a liquid. When the scientists used it to grow the membranes, they found that the membranes were much stronger and could handle more pressure than those made using supercritical CO2. This is a big deal because the membranes can now be used in high-pressure environments, which is common in many industries. The best part? These new membranes can separate the gases really well, even under high pressure. They also don't pollute the environment and can be fully recycled. This new method shows a lot of promise for making strong, eco-friendly ZIF-8 membranes for high-purity C3H6 production.