Zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 for fast adsorption and removal of benzotriazoles from aqueous solution

Removal of sarafloxacin from aqueous solution through Ni/Al-layered double hydroxide@ZIF-8

In recent years, excessive amounts of drugs such as antibiotics have been used to combat COVID-19 and newly discovered viruses. This has led to the production and release of significant amounts of drugs and their metabolites as toxic pollutants in aquatic systems. Therefore, pharmaceutical wastes must be removed efficiently before entering the environment and entering water sources. In this research, Ni/Al-LDH@ZIF-8 nanocomposite was synthesized from layered double hydroxides and metal-organic frameworks and used to remove the antibiotic sarafloxacin (SRF) in the aqueous medium. The work aimed to develop the performance and combine the features of the adsorbent compounds such as high surface area, adjustable porosity, and low-density structure. Different methods implemented to analyze the nanocomposite, such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The experiment utilized the central composite design to evaluate statistics and the response level method to optimize the factors affecting the absorption process. The initial concentration of SRF, adsorbent dose, pH, and contact time were considered in this experiment. The results showed an increase in the removal efficiency of SRF to 97%. Statistical studies showed that the optimal adsorption conditions are as follows: initial concentration of SRF 40 mg·L-1, pH 6.3, adsorbent dose of Ni/Al-LDH@ZIF-8 49 mg, and contact time of 44 min. According to the model of isotherms parameters, the adsorption process is more consistence with the Freundlich model with the absorption capacity of 79.7 mg·g-1. The pseudo-second-order model described the adsorption kinetics data.

Graphical abstract

Removal of benzotriazole derivatives by biochar: Potential environmental applications

Benzotriazole and its derivatives (BTAs) are commonly present in wastewater due to their extensive use in industrial processes, yet their removal is still unexplored. Here, we test the removal of these pollutants using two functionalised biochars, synthesised from wild plum (WpOH) and apricot (AsPhA) kernels. The aim of this work was to optimise the adsorption process against various BTAs (i.e., benzotriazole (BTZ), 4-hydroxy-1H-benzotriazole (OHBZ), 4-methyl-1H-benzotriazole (4 MBZ), 5-methyl-1H-benzotriazole (5 MBZ), 5-chloro-1H-benzotriazole (ClBZ), 5,6-dimethyl-1H-benzotriazole (DMBZ)), and determine the adsorption mechanisms at play, using real wastewater matrices. Batch studies showed that the optimal adsorption pH ranged between 4 and 6 for WpOH and AsPhA, respectively, and equilibrium was reached after 240 min. The kinetic models that best described the adsorption process were in the following order: Elovich model > pseudo-second order model > pseudo-first order model. The equilibrium data showed the highest correlation with the Freundlich isotherm, indicating multilayer adsorption. The maximum adsorption capacity obtained in mixtures was 379 mg/g on WpOH and 526 mg/g on AsPhA. The mechanistic work revealed that the BTAs became bound to the biochar primarily through H-bonding, n-π and π-π EDA interactions. In wastewater, obtained before and after conventional treatment, the concentration of OHBZ and BTZ was reduced by >40%, while the concentration of the other compounds studied fell below the detection limit (∼2.0-90 ng/L). Finally, using a Vibrio fischeri assay, we showed that adsorption onto AsPhA significantly reduced the relative toxicity of both raw and treated wastewater.

Hierarchical ZIF-8 Materials via Acid Gas-Induced Defect Sites: Synthesis, Characterization, and Functional Properties

Microporous metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have been widely studied for molecular separation and catalysis. The uniform micropores of MOFs (<2 nm) can introduce diffusion limitations and render the interiors of the crystal inaccessible to target molecules. The introduction of hierarchical porosity (interconnected micro and mesopores) can enhance intra-crystalline diffusion while maintaining the separation/catalytic selectivity. Conventional hierarchical MOF synthesis involves complex strategies such as elongated linkers, soft templating, and sacrificial templates. Here, we demonstrate a more general approach using our controlled acid gas-enabled degradation and reconstruction (Solvent-Assisted Crystal Redemption) strategy. Selective linker labilization of ZIF-8 is shown to generate a hierarchical pore structure with mesoporous cages (∼50 nm) while maintaining microporosity. Detailed structural and spectroscopic characterization of the controlled degradation, linker insertion, and subsequent linker thermolysis is presented to show the clustering of acid gas-induced defects and the generation of mesopores. These findings indicate the generality of controlled degradation and reconstruction as a means for linker insertion in a wider variety of MOFs and creating hierarchical porosity. Enhanced molecular diffusion and catalytic activity in the hierarchical ZIF-8 are demonstrated by the adsorption kinetics of 1-butanol and a Knoevenagel condensation reaction.

An introductory review on advanced multifunctional materials

This review summarizes the applications of some of the advanced materials. It included the synthesis of several nanoparticles such as metal oxide nanoparticles (e.g., Fe₃O₄, ZnO, ZrOSO₄, MoO_3-x, CuO, AgFeO₂, Co₃O₄, CeO₂, SiO₂, and CuFeO₂); metal hydroxide nanosheets (e.g., Zn₅(OH)₈(NO₃)₂·2H₂O, Zn(OH)(NO₃)·H₂O, and Zn₅(OH)₈(NO₃)₂); metallic nanoparticles (Ag, Au, Pd, and Pt); carbon-based nanomaterials (graphene, graphene oxide (GO), graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄), and carbon dots (CDs)); biopolymers (cellulose, nanocellulose, TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanofibers (TOCNFs), and chitosan); organic polymers (e.g. covalent-organic frameworks (COFs)); and hybrid materials (e.g. metal-organic frameworks (MOFs)). Most of these materials were applied in several fields such as environmental-based technologies (e.g., water remediation, air purification, gas storage), energy (production of hydrogen, dimethyl ether, solar cells, and supercapacitors), and biomedical sectors (sensing, biosensing, cancer therapy, and drug delivery). They can be used as efficient adsorbents and catalysts to remove emerging contaminants e.g., inorganic (i.e., heavy metals) and organic (e.g., dyes, antibiotics, pesticides, and oils in water via adsorption. They can be also used as catalysts for catalytic degradation reactions such as redox reactions of pollutants. They can be used as filters for air purification by capturing carbon dioxide (CO₂) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). They can be used for hydrogen production via water splitting, alcohol oxidation, and hydrolysis of NaBH₄. Nanomedicine for some of these materials was also included being an effective agent as an antibacterial, nanocarrier for drug delivery, and probe for biosensing.

Performance and Mechanism of Functionalized Water Hyacinth Biochar for Adsorption and Removal of Benzotriazole and Lead in Water

In this paper, water hyacinth is used to prepare biochar (WBC). A biochar-aluminum-zinc-layered double hydroxide composite functional material (WL) is synthesized via a simple co-precipitation method which is used to adsorb and remove benzotriazole (BTA) and lead (Pb²⁺) in an aqueous solution. In particular, this research paper uses various characterization methods to analyze WL and to explore the adsorption performance and adsorption mechanism of WL on BTA and Pb²⁺ in an aqueous solution through batch adsorption experiments combined with model fitting and spectroscopy techniques. The results indicate that the surface of WL contains a thick sheet-like structure with many wrinkles which would provide many adsorption sites for pollutants. At room temperature (25 °C), the maximum adsorption capacities of WL on BTA and Pb²⁺ are 248.44 mg·g^-1 and 227.13 mg·g^-1, respectively. In a binary system, during the process of using WL to adsorb BTA and Pb²⁺, compared with that in the absorption on Pb²⁺, WL shows a stronger affinity in the adsorption on BTA, and BTA would thus be preferred in the absorption process. The adsorption process of WL on BTA and Pb²⁺ is spontaneous and is endothermic monolayer chemisorption. In addition, the adsorption of WL on BTA and Pb²⁺ involves many mechanisms, but the main adsorption mechanisms are different. Among them, hydrogen bonding dominates the adsorption on BTA, while functional groups (C-O and C=O) complexation dominates the adsorption on Pb²⁺. When WL adsorbs BTA and Pb²⁺, the coexistence of cations (K⁺, Na⁺, and Ca²⁺) has a strong anti-interference ability, and WL can use a lower concentration of fulvic acid (FA) (<20 mg·L^-1) to improve its adsorption performance. Last but not least, WL has a stable regenerative performance in a one-component system and a binary system, which indicates that WL has excellent potential for the remediation of BTA and Pb²⁺ in water.

Morphology Engineering of Hybrid Supercapacitor Electrodes from Hierarchical Stem-like Carbon Networks with Flower-like MoS2 Structures

There is a critical need to develop high-performance supercapacitors that can complement and even rival batteries for energy storage. This work introduces a strategy to drastically enhance the energy storage performance of a supercapacitor by engineering electrode morphologies with ternary composites offering distinct benefits for the energy storage application. The electrodes were fabricated with conductive networks of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) coated with a zeolitic imidazole framework (ZIF) for high ion diffusivity and ion-accumulating molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) with various morphologies. These include flower-like (fMoS₂), stacked-plate (pMoS₂), and exfoliated-flake (eMoS₂) structures from topochemical synthesis. CNT-ZIF-fMoS₂ demonstrates an excellent energy density, reaching almost 80 Wh/kg, and a maximum power density of approximately 3000 W/kg in a half-cell. This is far superior to the electrodes containing pMoS₂ and eMoS₂ and attributed to the increased surface area and the faradaic reactivity offered by fMoS₂. Additionally, the CNT-ZIF-fMoS₂ electrode demonstrates exceptional stability with an ∼78% of capacitance retention over 10,000 cycles. This work suggests that the electrode morphologies can dominate the energy storage behaviors and that the heteromaterial approach may be crucial in designing next-generation supercapacitors.

Portable Wireless Intelligent Electrochemical Sensor for the Ultrasensitive Detection of Rutin Using Functionalized Black Phosphorene Nanocomposite

To build a portable and sensitive method for monitoring the concentration of the flavonoid rutin, a new electrochemical sensing procedure was established. By using nitrogen-doped carbonized polymer dots (N-CPDs) anchoring few-layer black phosphorene (N-CPDs@FLBP) 0D-2D heterostructure and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) as the modifiers, a carbon ionic liquid electrode and a screen-printed electrode (SPE) were used as the substrate electrodes to construct a conventional electrochemical sensor and a portable wireless intelligent electrochemical sensor, respectively. The electrochemical behavior of rutin on the fabricated electrochemical sensors was explored in detail, with the analytical performances investigated. Due to the electroactive groups of rutin, and the specific π-π stacking and cation-π interaction between the nanocomposite with rutin, the electrochemical responses of rutin were greatly enhanced on the AuNPs/N-CPDs@FLBP-modified electrodes. Under the optimal conditions, ultra-sensitive detection of rutin could be realized on AuNPs/N-CPDs@FLBP/SPE with the detection range of 1.0 nmol L^-1 to 220.0 μmol L^-1 and the detection limit of 0.33 nmol L^-1 (S/N = 3). Finally, two kinds of sensors were applied to test the real samples with satisfactory results.

The synergy of adsorption and photosensitization of platinum-doped graphitic carbon nitride for improved removal of rhodamine B

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄) has attracted growing attention recently for photodegradation of pollutants. However, the photosensitization performance of g-C₃N₄ was limited by insufficient generation efficiency of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and weak light absorption. In this study, platinum (Pt)-doped g-C₃N₄ photocatalyst was synthesized by thermal polycondensation using dicyandiamide and chloroplatinic acid. The structure and composition of Pt-doped g-C₃N₄ were tested by scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffractometer (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), which indicated that the Pt-doped g-C₃N₄ was successfully prepared. Compared with bare g-C₃N₄, Pt²⁺-doped g-C₃N₄ has wider light absorption range, lower band gap, and higher photon-generated carrier migration efficiency, which significantly improved the light absorption range and photosensitization efficiency of Pt²⁺-doped g-C₃N₄, while photodegradation efficiency for Rhodamine B (RhB) increased from 50 to 90%. The effecting factors of adsorption and photocatalytic degradation performance of Pt²⁺-doped g-C₃N₄ for RhB were investigated in detail. The adsorption is a monolayer adsorption process that fits the Langmuir model, as well as being a spontaneous endothermic process. Using a white LED as an excitation source, electrons and holes in Pt²⁺-doped g-C₃N₄ were generated. The electrons reacting with dissolved oxygen produce active oxygen species such as •OH and ¹O₂, which can degrade RhB on the surface of Pt²⁺-doped g-C₃N₄. The photocatalytic method has the advantages of simple operation, low cost, and high efficiency, and has the potential to directly remove dyes in wastewater utilizing sunlight.

Environmental decomposition and remodeled phytotoxicity of framework-based nanomaterials

Zeolitic imidazole frameworks (ZIFs) have attracted a considerable amount of attention for use in environmental applications (e.g., pollutant adsorption and photocatalysis in water treatments). The environmental stability and toxicity of ZIFs are key prerequisites for their practical applications, but information about these factors is largely lacking. The present work finds that pristine ZIFs (ZIF-8 and ZIF-67) photodegrade from frame structures into two-dimensional nanosheets and are oxidized to zinc carbonate (ZIF-8) and Co₃O₄ (ZIF-67) under visible-light irradiation. The photoinduced electrons, holes and free radicals promote dissolution of the metal cores and organic ligands, leading to collapse of the frame structure. The photodegradation of ZIF-8 alleviates developmental inhibition, oxidative stress, plasmolysis, and photosynthetic toxicity, while the photodegradation of ZIF-67 aggravates nanotoxicity. The integration of metabolomics and transcriptomics analysis reveals that unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis and metal ion-binding transcription contribute to the altered toxicity of ZIF photodegradation. These findings highlight the roles of photodegradation in structural transformation and alteration of the toxicity of ZIFs, alarming the study of pristine metal-organic frameworks (MOFs).

Novel easily separable core–shell Fe3O4/PVP/ZIF-8 nanostructure adsorbent: optimization of phosphorus removal from Fosfomycin pharmaceutical wastewater

The synthesis of an easily separable novel core–shell Fe3O4/PVP/ZIF-8 nanostructure adsorbent and its usage for Fosfomycin pharmaceutical wastewater treatment.

Layered double hydroxides loaded sludge biochar composite for adsorptive removal of benzotriazole and Pb(II) from aqueous solution

In this work, a novel sludge biochar/Zn-Al layered double hydroxide composite (SL) was synthesized in a facile co-precipitation method, and it was used to simultaneously remove benzotriazole (BTA) and lead ion (Pb(II)). Batch adsorption experiments demonstrated that composites with sludge content of 1.0 g (SL-1.0) had a great adsorption performance for BTA and Pb(II). The maximum adsorption capacities of SL-1.0 for BTA and Pb(II) were 239.6 and 226.1 mg g^-1, respectively. There was preferential adsorption of BTA in BTA and Pb(II) binary system. The adsorption mechanism analysis indicated that the BTA and Pb(II) adsorption involved electrostatic attraction and chemical bonding with surface functional groups on SL-1.0. Specifically, hydrogen bonding and π-π interaction were mainly ascribed to BTA adsorption, while complexation with surface function groups dominated Pb(II) adsorption. With the advantages of facile synthesis and excellent adsorption capacity, SL-1.0 possesses great potential for simultaneously removing of BTA and Pb(II) from wastewaters.

Removal of Particulate Matters by Using Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework-8s (ZIF-8s) Coated onto Cotton: Effect of the Pore Size of ZIF-8s on Removal

Removal of particulate matter (PM) like PM2.5 and PM10 from air was carried out with cotton coated with metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) having various pore sizes to understand the effect of the pore size of MOFs (here, ZIF-8s) on the performances in PM elimination. Both removal efficiency and quality factor, based on the unit surface area of ZIF-8s, in the filtration of PMs with ZIF-8/cotton did not rely considerably on the pore size of ZIF-8s. More importantly, small pores (even less than 0.5 nm) of conventional MOFs like ZIF-8 are more than enough in the elimination of large PMs like PM10 with a size of microns probably because small active sites (such as polar functional groups) on PMs can interact with porous materials having polarity. Additionally, electrostatic interactions between PMs and porous materials could be confirmed as a plausible mechanism for PM removal with ZIF-8/cotton.

Simultaneously removal of Cr(VI) and Cd(II) from water using a flower-like primary battery nanosystem

In this study, a new flower-like primary battery nanosystem termed "Zn/CCP/ZIF-8" was prepared by depositing conductive carbon paint (CCP) and zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) on a zinc plate (Zn). Therein, CCP had good conductivity performance and adhesiveness, ZIF-8 and Zn/CCP/ZIF-8 possessed BET specific surface areas of 1909.5 and 1265.4 m²/g respectively. The results showed that the Zn/CCP/ZIF-8 nanosystem could effectively simultaneously adsorb hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) and bivalent cadmium (Cd(II)) from water. The system could promote the transfer of electrons from Zn to Cr(VI) and Cd(II) which were effectively reduced to trivalent chromium (Cr(III)) and cadmium (Cd), respectively. The resultant Zn/CCP/ZIF-8/Cr/Cd composite was then easily separated from water. The adsorption isotherm, kinetics, and thermodynamics of the prepared Zn/CCP/ZIF-8 for Cr(VI) and Cd(II) were investigated. An electrochemistry performance test proved that the Zn/CCP/ZIF-8 system was a primary battery. Notably, the Zn/CCP/ZIF-8 system substantially reduced the amounts of Cr(VI) and Cd(II) absorbed by zebrafish and water spinach, thus increasing food safety. The results of a rat test indicated that the Zn/CCP/ZIF-8 system possessed a high biosafety. This study provides a promising, eco-friendly, and facile method for the simultaneously treatment of Cr(VI) and Cd(II) contamination of water.

Immobilization of MIL-88(Fe) anchored TiO2-chitosan(2D/2D) hybrid nanocomposite for the degradation of organophosphate pesticide: Characterization, mechanism and degradation intermediates

In this study, we have rationally designed and grafted a bio-assisted 2D/2D TiO₂/MIL-88(Fe) (TCS@MOF) heterojunction by growing granular TiO₂ on the surface of MIL-88(Fe) nanosheet, as hybrid photocatalyst. The hierarchical TCS@MOF composite was prepared via the one-pot solvothermal process and employed for monocrotophos (MCP) degradation under visible light region, since its persistent nature on soil and water causes major threat to the environment. The TCS@MOF promotes a number of packed high-speed nano-tunnels in the (p-n) heterojunctions, which significantly enhance the migration of photo-induced electrons (e^-) and holes (h⁺), respectively and thus limits the charge recombination of e^-s. The optimized photocatalyst achieves significant catalytic activity of ~98.79% for the degradation of MCP within 30 min of irradiation. The prominent oxidative radicals namely •OH, •O₂^- etc., were involved in the oxidation of organic pesticide. Besides, TCS@MOF exhibits outstanding stability even after five repetitive cycles for the oxidation of MCP with a negligible decrease in photo-activity. The proposed mechanism and oxidative pathways of MCP were rationally deduced in detail subject to experimental results. The mechanism renders insight into the oxidation and consequent bond rupture of pollutant as well as into the formation of products such as H₂O, CO₂, etc. This report unveils a novel architecture of proficiently optimized TCS@MOF material structure for the perceptive oxidation of organic contaminants.

Boosted insights of novel accordion-like (2D/2D) hybrid photocatalyst for the removal of cationic dyes: Mechanistic and degradation pathways

In the present work, a novel (2D/2D) accordion like CS@g‒C₃N₄/MX hybrid composite was prepared through one-pot hydro-thermal synthesis method and utilized as a catalyst for the degradation of organic persistent dyes such as methylene blue (MB) and rhodamine B (RhB). Because the removal of such organic compounds is a major dispute in environmental aspects. In this study, the bio-assisted g‒C₃N₄/MX nanosheets was utilized for the removal of organic dyes from aqueous solution under visible light irradiation, respectively. The CS@g-C₃N₄/MX photocatalyst showed high catalytic activity based on ~99% and ~98.5% degradation of MB and RhB within 60 and 40 min using visible light irradiation. This outcome could have resulted in greater catalytic enactment towards the degradation of other persistent pollutants with enhanced light absorption property and it can efficiently suppress photo-generated charge recombination, thus improving the interfacial charge transfer rate. The OH radical was being effective oxidative species involved in the CS@g-C₃N₄/MX system for the degradation of organic contaminants. Furthermore, CS@g-C₃N₄/MX showed excellent photo-stability over five consecutive cycles for the degradation of organic dyes with negligible loss of photocatalytic activity. Finally, the purposed catalytic mechanisms and degradation pathways of MB and RhB were systematically discussed in detail based on experimental results. Thus, the organics which oxidized into ring-opened compounds such as ethoxyethane, butadiene etc., to non-toxic products like H₂O, CO₂ and some mineral salts.

Magnetic hollow bimetallic zinc/cobalt zeolitic imidazolate framework as sorbent for efficiently enriching aflatoxins combined with UHPLC-IT-MSn determination

A novel magnetic hollow bimetallic zinc/cobalt-based zeolitic imidazolate framework (MHB-Zn/Co-ZIF-8) was prepared via a microwave-assisted chemical etching in methanol. The structure, morphology, and specific surface area were characterized by X-ray diffraction and FTIR spectroscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, and N₂ adsorption. The hollow nanostructures with high internal specific surface area, abundant active sites, and reduced aggregation of nanoparticles endow the hollow zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF) nanoparticle with high chemical stability, desirable durability, and excellent adsorption abilities. The MHB-Zn/Co-ZIF-8 nanoparticle was used as an effective sorbent for magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) of trace aflatoxins B₁, B₂, G₁, and G₂ from fruit juice and fruit samples. The main parameters affecting the efficiency of MSPE procedures were investigated and optimized. The results show that, under optimized conditions, enrichment factors ranging from 67- to 355-fold are obtained for the target analytes. The method is linear in the range 1.0 to 100.0 ng mL^-1 with correlation coefficients (R²) from 0.9960 to 0.9992. The limits of detection of four aflatoxins are in the range 0.18 to 1.50 ng mL^-1 and the average recoveries range from 75.1 to 102.4%, with relative standard deviations (RSDs) less than 13.6%. This work presents the excellent extraction performance of aflatoxins B₁, B₂, G₁, and G₂ on MHB-Zn/Co-ZIF-8. In addition, the applicability of the MSPE coupling with ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-ion trap tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-IT-MSⁿ) for trace analysis in complex matrices is shown. Graphical abstract Schematic presentation of magnetic hollow bimetallic zinc/cobalt zeolitic imidazolate framework as sorbent for efficiently enriching aflatoxins B₁, B₂, G₁, and G₂ from fruit juice samples prior to ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-ion trap tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-IT-MSⁿ) determination.

Double layer MOFs M-ZIF-8@ZIF-67: The adsorption capacity and removal mechanism of fipronil and its metabolites from environmental water and cucumber samples

In this study, a novel metal-organic framework (M-ZIF-8@ZIF-67) was successfully prepared using the single layer Fe3O4-ZIF-8 as magnetic core and wrapped a layer of ZIF-67 outer. This M-ZIF-8@ZIF-67 was employed as an adsorbent for the adsorption and removal of fipronil and its metabolites from environmental water and cucumber samples. The characterization results suggested that M-ZIF-8@ZIF-67 has the double layer structure a polyhedral structure with uniform pores, while ZIF-67 was successfully coated on the surface of Fe3O4-ZIF-8. The unique structure endowed M-ZIF-8@ZIF-67 a high surface area (219 m2/g) and high adsorption capacity for fipronil, fipronil desulfinyl, fipronil sulfide and fipronil sulfone. To our knowledge, this is the first report detailing the adsorption properties of M-ZIF-8@ZIF-67 with double layer structure relating to the adsorption and removal of pesticides. Furthermore, the adsorption model analysis demonstrated that the static adsorption data fitted the Freundlich bimolecular layer adsorption model better than the Langmuir monolayer adsorption model. This study indicates that M-ZIF-8@ZIF-67 has significant potential in the adsorption and removal of fipronil and its metabolites in water and vegetable samples.

Synthesis, characterization, and application of iron oxyhydroxide coated with rice husk for fluoride removal from aqueous media

A novel nanoparticle (NPs) iron oxyhydroxide modified with rice husk (RH + FeOOH) was synthesized with wet chemical method. Batch study was performed to investigate fluoride removal and adsorption capacity. The RH + FeOOH NPs were characterized by using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller, scanning electron microscope with energy dispersion, transmission electron microscope, and particle size analyzer. By varying parameters, batch adsorption with adsorption capacity was performed such as contact time, stirring rate, adsorbent dosage, temperature, initial concentration, and pH. The BET surface area and the pore volume of the FeOOH and RH + FeOOH were found to be 157 m² g^-1, 195 m² g^-1 and 0.136 m² g^-1, 0.224 m² g^-1. Based on kinetic study, pseudo-second-order was followed by regression coefficient (R²) 0.99. Langmuir isotherm model showed the best adsorption capacity of 26 mg g^-1. Moreover, the RH + FeOOH showed best affinity towards fluoride removal and may act as an excellent adsorbent for fluoride treatment from aqueous solution. Synthesis and Fluoride Adsorption Mechanism of Iron Oxyhydroxide Modified with rice husk.

A water resistance magnetic graphene-anchored zeolitic imidazolate framework for efficient adsorption and removal of residual tetracyclines in wastewater

Water-resistant magnetic graphene-anchored zeolite imidazolate (Fe₃O₄/ZIF-8-G) composite materials with the largest surface area are formed by directly growing a hydrophobic ZIF-8 skeleton onto a graphene support through self-assembly in methanol. Fe₃O₄/ZIF-8-G hybrid composite has water resistance and super strong adsorption capacity, and is used as an effective adsorbent for adsorption and removal of residual tetracycline in wastewater. The morphologies and structure, as well as water resistance of Fe₃O₄/ZIF-8-G, were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermogravimetry analysis (TGA), N₂ adsorption and pH_PZC. The adsorption for tetracycline (TC), oxytetracycline (OTC) and chlortetracycline (CTC) followed pseudo-second-order kinetics and fitted the Freundlich adsorption model with the simultaneous adsorption capacity for TC (382.58 mg g^-1), OTC (565.94 mg g^-1) and CTC (608.06 mg g^-1) at pH 5-6 for 10 h. These were much higher than previously reported results for the removal of tetracycline from aqueous solutions. The used Fe₃O₄/ZIF-8-G could be effectively reused and recycled at least five times without significant loss of adsorption capacity. The hydrophobic and π-π interaction between the aromatic rings of TCs and the aromatic imidazole rings of the ZIF-8-G framework were the main adsorption mechanism on the surface of Fe₃O₄/ZIF-8-G. Constructing a hydrophobic surface of ZIF-8/G framework resulted in a reduction of the hydrophilic sites of the surface. This can improve stability and selective adsorption of ZIF-8-G framework. In addition, the results show no significant difference in the adsorption kinetics and adsorption capacity of Fe₃O₄/ZIF-8-G for TC, OTC and CTC in pure water and wastewater.

Promoting desert biocrust formation using aquatic cyanobacteria with the aid of MOF-based nanocomposite

Desertification and eutrophication are two global environmental problems human beings face. Inoculating cyanobacteria to form biocrusts is considered an effective technology to inhibit desertification. The main limitation of biocrust formation is the lack of propagules and nutrients in deserts. A possible low cost source of propagules and nutrients is eutrophic water containing aquatic cyanobacteria (AC), nitrogen and phosphorus. In this study, we fabricated a network-structured nanocomposite (designated as MC) using a metal-organic framework (MOF) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC). MC, with a large specific surface area and numerous surface groups, had a high retention capacity for water and nutrients and good biosafety. The combination of AC-containing water (ACW) and MC could provide a suitable microenvironment in the soil, promote the growth of desert cyanobacteria (DC), formation of biocrusts and inhibition of desertification. This study provides a novel approach to simultaneously relieve desertification and eutrophication.

Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework-8/Polypropylene-Polycarbonate Barklike Meltblown Fibrous Membranes by a Facile in Situ Growth Method for Efficient PM2.5 Capture

Environmental pollution, especially air pollution, seriously endangers public health globally. Due to severe air pollution, air filters still face many challenges, especially in terms of filtration performance and filtration stability. Herein, a zeolitic imidazolate framework-8/polypropylene-polycarbonate barklike meltblown fibrous membrane (PPC/ZIF-8) was designed through meltblown and an in situ growth method, achieving efficient PM_2.5 capture and high filtration stability under a harsh environment. After in situ growth, the PPC/ZIF-8 membrane could dramatically enhance the PM_2.5 filtration efficiency without increasing the pressure drop; the PM_2.5 filtration efficiency and quality factor were up to 32.83 and 116.86% higher than those of the pure PPC membrane, respectively. Moreover, through five filtration-wash-dry cycles, the PM_2.5 filtration performance is still at a high level. This PPC/ZIF-8 membrane provides a new strategy for the preparation of an air filter with excellent comprehensive filtration performance.

Metal-Organic Framework@Carbon Hybrid Magnetic Material as an Efficient Adsorbent for Pollutant Extraction

The preparation of a hybrid magnetic metal-organic framework (MOF)@carbon from a MOF-derived porous carbon is reported. MOF-74(Co) is used as a precursor for the synthesis of a magnetic carbon with homogeneous cobalt particle distribution (C-MOF-74) by a direct carbonization step. The cobalt particles present in the carbon are partially converted to zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF)-67 by reaction with 2-methylimidazole to obtain a core-shell ZIF-67@C-MOF-74. The effect of the reaction time and 2-methylimidazole concentration in the conversion procedure is studied by X-ray diffraction and scanning microscopy. Because of its high surface area, dual porosity, and magnetic properties, ZIF-67@C-MOF-74 exhibits high extraction capacity (180 mg g^-1), fast adsorption rate, and excellent recyclability for Congo red adsorption. In addition, the prepared material shows high efficiency in the extraction of different phenolic compounds. The developed procedure can be easily adapted to different carbons and MOFs, thus potentially enabling the preparation of a wide number of new hybrid materials.

Effective removal of bisphenols from aqueous solution with magnetic hierarchical rattle-like Co/Ni-based LDH

A novel unique adsorbent (Fe₃O₄@Co/Ni-LDH) has been successfully synthesized and applied for removal of bisphenols (BPs) from aqueous solution. The prepared adsorbent was characterized to appear in a hierarchical rattle-like structure, and possesses high specific surface area, abundant pore system, and magnetic properties. Adsorption kinetics fitted well with the pseudo-second-order model. Adsorption isotherms abide by the Langmuir model, and the maximum adsorption capacity for bisphenol A (BPA), F (BPF), AF (BPAF) and S (BPS) on Fe₃O₄@Co/Ni-LDH at pH of 7.0 were 238.96, 177.09, 320.56 and 345.84 mg/g, respectively. Moreover, it was found that the high pH and NaCl concentration were not conducive to the removal of BPs. The humic acid and real waters had no significant effects on the removal of BPs on Fe₃O₄@Co/Ni-LDH. Furthermore, the FT-IR spectra indicated that the removal of four BPs were primarily Hydrogen bond interaction between BPs and Fe₃O₄@Co/Ni-LDH. The Fe₃O₄@Co/Ni-LDH was regenerated effectively by methanol and can be repeatedly used. This novel Fe₃O₄@Co/Ni-LDH can be applied as a promising adsorbent for removal of BPs from aqueous matrices.

Zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 coated Fe3O4@SiO2 composites for magnetic solid-phase extraction of bisphenols

A new magnetic composite material ZIF-8 coated Fe₃O₄@SiO₂ was employed for preconcentration and detection of trace BPs in water and plastic products.

Enhanced chemical sensing for Cu2+ based on composites of ZIF-8 with small molecules

Two organic molecules, pyridoxal hydrazide (PAH) and salicylaldehyde based Rhodamine B hydrazone (RBS) were integrated into zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) to give composites, namely PAH/ZIF-8 and RBS/ZIF-8. The organic molecules and ZIF-8 are proposed to be assembled via hydrogen bonds and π–π stacking in the composites. The mass fraction of PAH and RBS in the composites was calculated to be 21.86% and 29.3%. The fluorescence of PAH/ZIF-8 is quenched regularly by Cu²⁺. The detection limit for Cu²⁺ was calculated to be 1.42 nM for PAH/ZIF-8, which is one order of magnitude lower than that of PAH. The detection limit for Cu²⁺ was determined to be 0.8 μM for RBS/ZIF-8, which is three times lower than that of RBS. The two composites both display high selectivity to Cu²⁺ over competing metal ions. The PAH/ZIF-8 fluorescent sensor was successfully applied to Cu²⁺ determination in environmental water. PAH/ZIF-8 exhibits excellent cell membrane permeability and low cytotoxicity in cellular imaging. The enhanced chemical sensor was designed by introducing small molecules into ZIF-8 for the specific recognition of Cu²⁺.

An enhanced chemical sensor was designed by introducing small molecules into ZIF-8 for the specific recognition of Cu²⁺.

One-step synthesis of Cu(II) metal-organic gel as recyclable material for rapid, efficient and size selective cationic dyes adsorption

Efficient removal of non-biodegradable and hazardous dyes from wastewater remains a hot research topic. Herein, a rationally designed a Cu(II)-based metal-organic gel (Cu-MOG) with a nanoporous 3D network structure prepared via a simple one-step mixing method was successfully employed for the removal of cationic dyes. The Cu-MOG exhibited high efficiency, with an adsorption capacity of up to 650.32 mg/g, and rapid adsorption efficiency, with the ability to adsorb 80% of Neutral Red within 1 min. The high adsorption efficiency was attributed to its large specific surface area, which enabled it to massively bind cationic dyes through electrostatic interaction, and a nanoporous structure that promoted intra-pore diffusion. Remarkably, the Cu-MOG displayed size-selective adsorption, based on adsorption studies concerning dyes of different sizes as calculated by density functional theory. Additionally, the adsorption performance of the Cu-MOG still maintained removal efficiency of 100% after three regeneration cycles. These results suggested that the Cu-MOG could be expected to be a promising and competitive candidate to conveniently process wastewater.