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. 2026 Aug 14;12(33):eaeg1691. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.aeg1691

Fig. 4. Separation performance and SMB process simulation results of Ni(BIC)2 for xylene isomer mixtures.

Fig. 4.

(A) Vapor breakthrough curves of PX/MX/OX/EB mixtures with a molar ratio of 22:50:22:6 on Ni(BIC)2 at 393 K. (B) Comparison of PX separation performance using an SPX/(MX+OX+EB)-PX capacity plot. Data are collected from reported adsorbents (table S3), with the highest reported selectivity for each material adopted for comparison. (C) Liquid phase breakthrough curve on Ni(BIC)2 column under 393 K. (D) The liquid adsorption isotherms of PX, MX, OX, EB, and PDEB on Ni(BIC)2 column at 393 K. (E) Pulse curves of PX, MX, OX, and EB on Ni(BIC)2 column at 393 K. (F) Schematic illustration of the four-zone SMB process and downstream PX/pDEB distillation. (G) Internal concentration profiles across the 24 beds at cyclic steady state of the SMB process on Ni(BIC)2. (H) Comparison of productivities, desorbent consumptions, and energy duties in the SMB process on Ni(BIC)2 and FAU zeolite.