Nanoarchitectonics Design Strategy of Metal-Organic Framework and Bio-Metal-Organic Framework Composites for Advanced Wastewater Treatment through Adsorption

Freshwater depletion is an alarm for finding an eco-friendly solution to treat wastewater for drinking and domestic applications. Though several methods like chlorination, filtration, and coagulation-sedimentation are conventionally employed for water treatment, these methods need to be improved as they are not environmentally friendly, rely on chemicals, and are ineffective for all kinds of pollutants. These problems can be addressed by employing an alternative solution that is effective for efficient water treatment and favors commercial aspects. Metal organic frameworks (MOFs), an emerging porous material, possess high stability, pore size tunability, greater surface area, and active sites. These MOFs can be tailored; thus, they can be customized according to the target pollutant. Hence, MOFs can be employed as adsorbents that effectively target different pollutants. Bio-MOFs are a kind of MOFs that are incorporated with biomolecules, which also possess properties of MOFs and are used as a nontoxic adsorbent. In this review, we elaborate on the interaction between MOFs and target pollutants, the role of linkers in the adsorption of contaminants, tailoring strategy that can be employed on MOFs and Bio-MOFs to target specific pollutants, and we also highlight the effect of environmental matrices on adsorption of pollutants by MOFs.

Magnetically separable Co0.6Fe2.4O4/MIL-101-NH2 adsorbent for Congo red efficient removal

The development of effective and practical adsorbents for eliminating pollutants still remains a significant challenge. Herein, we synthesized a novel magnetically separable composite, Co0.6Fe2.4O4/MIL-101-NH2, through the in-situ growth of MIL-101-NH2 on magnetic nanoparticles, designed specifically for the removal of Congo red (CR) from aqueous solutions. MIL-101-NH2 possessed high BET surface area (240.485 m2•g-1) and facile magnetic separation function and can be swiftly separated (within 30 s) through an external magnetic field post-adsorption. The investigation systematically explored the influence of crucial parameters, including adsorbent dosage, pH, adsorption duration, temperature, and the presence of interfering ions, on CR adsorption performance. Findings indicate that CR adsorption adheres to the pseudo-second-order (PSO) kinetic model and the Langmuir isotherm model. Thermodynamic analysis reveals the spontaneity, endothermic nature, and orderly progression of the adsorption process. Remarkably, the adsorbent with 0.1 g•L-1 boasts an impressive maximum adsorption capacity of 1756.19 mg•g-1 for CR at 298.15 K, establishing its competitive advantage. The reuse of the adsorbent over 5 cycles remains 78% of the initial adsorption. The CR adsorption mechanisms were elucidated, emphasizing the roles of π-π interactions, electrostatic forces, hydrogen bonding, and metal coordination. Comparison with other dyes, such as methylene blue (MB) and methyl orange (MO), and exploration of adsorption performance in binary dye systems, demonstrates the superior capacity and selectivity of this adsorbent for CR. In conclusion, our magnetically separable metal-organic framework (MOF)based composite presents a versatile and effective solution for CR removal, with promising applications in water treatment and environmental remediation.

Selective Adsorption of Methyl Orange and Methylene Blue by Porous Carbon Material Prepared From Potassium Citrate

As the discharge amount of dye wastewater increases with the development of the textile printing and dyeing industries, the treatment of the dyes in the wastewater becomes more complex. The adsorption method is a commonly used method for treating dye wastewater. The adsorbent is the key factor affecting the adsorption performance. To develop a high-performance adsorbent, a porous carbon material prepared from potassium citrate by the calcination method was applied in the adsorption of dye-containing water in this study. The morphology and pore structure of the porous carbon materials were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and N2 adsorption/desorption isotherm. The porous carbon material with a specific surface area of 1436 m2 g-1, PC-900, was used as an adsorbent for the adsorption of methyl orange (MO) and methylene blue (MB). The results showed that the maximum adsorption capacity of PC-900 for MO and MB reached 927 and 1853.6 mg g-1, respectively. Studies on adsorption kinetics and adsorption isotherms showed that the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and the Langmuir isotherm model were more appropriate to describe the adsorption process of MO and MB by PC-900. In addition, the results of the mixed adsorption experiment of MO and MB dyes showed that PC-900 had selective adsorption for MB.

Adsorption Performance of Magnetic Covalent Organic Framework Composites for Bisphenol A and Ibuprofen

As typical environmental endocrine disruptors and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, bisphenol A and ibuprofen in water supplies can cause great harm to the ecological environment and human health. In this study, magnetic covalent organic framework composites Fe₃O₄@COF-300 were synthesized by the hydrothermal method and used to remove bisphenol A and ibuprofen from water. Fe₃O₄@COF-300 could be rapidly separated from the matrix by external magnetic fields, and could selectively adsorb bisphenol A and ibuprofen in the presence of coexisting compounds such as phenol, Congo red, and amino black 10B. The removal efficiency of ibuprofen was 96.12-98.52% at pH in the range of 2-4 and that of bisphenol A was 92.18-95.62% at pH in the range of 2-10. The adsorption of bisphenol A and ibuprofen followed a pseudo-second-order kinetic and Langmuir model, and was a spontaneous endothermic process with the maximum adsorption amounts of 173.31 and 303.03 mg∙g^-1, respectively. The material presented favorable stability and reusability, and the removal efficiency of bisphenol A and ibuprofen after 5 cycles was still over 92.15% and 89.29%, respectively. Therefore, the prepared composite Fe₃O₄@COF-300 exhibited good performance in the adsorption of bisphenol A and ibuprofen in water.

Synthesis of 2D Metal-Organic Nanosheets (MONs) by Liquid Phase Exfoliation: Applications in Effective Delivery of Antiulcer Drugs and Selective Adsorption and Removal of Cationic Dyes

Nowadays, the fabrication of 2D metal-organic nanosheets (2D MONs) has entered the research arena fascinating researchers worldwide. However, a lack of efficient and facile methods has remained a bottleneck for the manufacturing of these 2D MONs. Herein, a 2D metal-organic framework (MOF), i.e., 2D Cu-MOF, was synthesized using a facile and convenient stirring method by using 4,4'-trimethylenedipyridine (TMDP) as an organic linker. The as-prepared MOF was characterized in detail and based on single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, it was established that tangled layers in the 2D Cu-MOF are interconnected to produce thick strands. These tangled layers could be easily separated via ultrasonication-induced liquid phase exfoliation (UILPE) to give the 2D Cu-MON as illustrated through Tyndall light scattering and exhaustive microscopic exploration such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The application of this 2D Cu-MON was assessed in the field of drug delivery revealing exceptional drug loading for the drug lansoprazole (LPZ) by 2D Cu-MONs as well as drug release in the acidic and neutral medium demonstrating that the 2D Cu-MON is an excellent carrier for antiulcer drug delivery. For environmental protection, the application of 2D Cu-MON was also examined toward the removal of various cationic and anionic dyes with excellent selectivity toward cationic dye removal. The plausible mechanism for dye removal indicated the involvement of cation-π and π-π interactions, for the effective adsorption of cationic dyes as well as a increase in the surface area of 2D Cu-MON by UILPE. Remarkably, the high drug loading and dye removal are imputed to the increase in surface area by UILPE. In a nutshell, the developed 2D Cu-MON will prove to be beneficial for application in the field of drug delivery as well as for wastewater treatment.

Separation and remediation of environmental pollutants using metal-organic framework-based tailored materials

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are a polymer hybrid family of compounds comprising metal ions that have been deliberately incorporated in organic ligands to form several multi-dimensional structures with unique structural and functional attributes. They have the typical properties of brittleness, major porosity, and randomly crystalline. These three factors hampered their potential incorporation into modern technologies. However, with the discovery of their polymers, hope was rekindled. Polymers, unlike their counterparts, are versatile and malleable and can be tailored into solids with a wide range of technical applications. MOFs can be effectively incorporated into polymer structures, resulting in polymers with enhanced properties and increased demand, according to recent studies. This review focuses on the synthetic procedures of MOFs used to create hybrid materials, as well as their potential environmentally related applications. Desalination, hazardous heavy metal removal and mitigation, gas and liquid separations and purifications, and dye removal will all be extensively discussed as applications. To assemble this review, we will add insight from recent papers and discoveries, as well as seminal reports from experts on the advancement of MOF-polymers.

Preparation and characterization of a newly constructed multifunctional Co(ii)–organic framework: proton conduction and adsorption of Congo red in aqueous medium

The efficient adsorption of CR over Co-MOF 1 as well as the pH-dependent proton-conducting mechanism of the composite Co-MOF–Nafion membrane.

Preparation of Fe/Ni Bimetallic Oxide Porous Graphene Composite Materials for Efficient Adsorption and Removal of Sulfonamides

An iron-nickel bimetallic oxide porous graphene composite material (Fe/Ni-PG) was prepared by a simple partial combustion method, which can be used to effectively remove sulfonamides (SAs) from an aqueous solution. The adsorption performance of Fe/Ni-PG, Fe-PG, and Ni-PG on six kinds of SAs was compared, and the influence of time, temperature, pH, and initial concentration of SAs on the adsorption behavior of SAs of Fe/Ni-PG in an aqueous solution was studied. The adsorption kinetics and thermodynamics exhibited that the Langmuir model and pseudo-second-order kinetics model can describe the adsorption isotherm and kinetics. The maximum adsorption capacities of sulfadiazine (SD), sulfamerazine (SM), sulfamethazine (SDM), sulfathiazole (STZ), sulfapyridine (SPD), and sulfisoxazole (SIZ) calculated by the Langmuir model were 26.3, 50.3, 42.2, 27.3, 34.5, and 41.7 mg/g, respectively, which exceeded those of most reported adsorbents. In the adsorption process, hydrogen bonding, π-π electron donor-acceptor, electrostatic interaction, and bimetallic synergies play a major role, and the entire adsorption process is spontaneously endothermic. In addition, the material has excellent stability, and the Fe/Ni-PG after desorption is consistent with the raw material. This work provides a favorable way for the removal of SAs in the environment.

Efficient and selective removal of Congo red by a C@Mo composite nanomaterial using a citrate-based coordination polymer as the precursor

To research the effect of structural diversity on citrate-based coordination polymers (CPs), citric acid (H4cit) was selected to combine with Cu(ii) under hydrothermal conditions. A new CP [Cu2(cit)(H2O)2] (1) was synthesized and structurally characterized. The title complex shows a 3D 2,4,6-connected topology with the point symbol of {43·63}{44·66·85}{4}. Inspired by the decomposition and functional molybdenum component, 1 was used as a catalyst precursor to synthesize a carbon-based material (C-1) and a C@Mo material (C-Mo-1) by the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method and characterized in detail. The selective removal of a contaminant (Congo red) by complex 1, C-1 and C-Mo-1 in the aqueous phase was also comparatively investigated.

Selective adsorption of malachite green (MG) and fuchsin acid (FA) by ZIF-67 hybridized polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membranes

MOF/polymer hybrid membranes integrate the surface activity of MOFs and the advantages of PVDF membranes, and can be used as adsorption membranes in the efficient removal of target organics. In this work, a new hybrid membrane of ZIF-67/PVDF with varying ZIF-67 dosages has been fabricated through a facile mechanical blending followed by a lyotropic phase transition. Methods including field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), FT-IR analyses and surface hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity measurements are applied to characterize the structure, physicochemical properties and membrane performances. Two synthetic triarylmethane dyes, cationic malachite green (MG) and anionic fuchsin acid (FA), are chosen as the main adsorption targets to evaluate the adsorption capacities of the resulting ZIF-67/PVDF hybrid membranes. Interestingly, all of the ZIF-67/PVDF hybrid membranes exhibit distinctly favorable efficiencies and selectivities toward MG and FA compared to pristine PVDF, which proves the positive roles of ZIF-67 in the adsorption ability of the hybrid membranes. The adsorption conditions are optimized and the adsorption kinetics and thermodynamics are analysed to study the adsorption mechanism. The reusability and the structural stability of the hybrid membranes undergoing cyclic adsorption processes are also discussed. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that good adsorption capacities for MG and FA for these MOF/PVDF membranes have been reported. This work highlights the prospective applications of MOF/PVDF hybrid membranes in the rapid and effective removal of target organics in the treatment of waste water.

Experimental investigations into the irregular synthesis of iron(iii) terephthalate metal-organic frameworks MOF-235 and MIL-101

MOF-235(Fe) and MIL-101(Fe) are two well-studied metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with dissimilar crystal structures and topologies. Previously reported syntheses of the former show that it has greatly varying surface areas, indicating a lack of phase purity of the products, i.e. the possible presence of both MOFs in the same sample. To find the reason for this, we have tested and modified the commonly used synthesis protocol of MOF-235(Fe), where a 3 : 5 molar ratio of iron(iii) ions and a terephthalic acid linker is heated in a 1 : 1 DMF : ethanol solvent at 80 °C for 24 h. Using XRD and BET surface area (SA_BET) measurements, we found that it is difficult to obtain a pure phase of MOF-235, as MIL-101 also appears to form during the solvothermal treatment. Comparison of the XRD peak height ratios of the synthesis products revealed a direct correlation between the MOF-235/MIL-101 content and surface area; more MOF-235 yields a lower surface area and vice versa. In general, using a larger (3 : 1) DMF : ethanol ratio than that reported in the literature and a stoichiometric (4 : 3) Fe(iii) : TPA ratio yields a nearly pure MOF-235 product (SA_BET = 295 m² g^-1, 67% yield). An optimized synthesis procedure was developed to obtain high-surface area MIL-101(Fe) (SA_BET > 2400 m² g^-1) in a large yield and at a previously unreported temperature (80 °C vs. previously used 110-150 °C). In situ X-ray scattering was utilized to investigate the crystallization of MOF-235 and MIL-101. At 80 °C, only MOF-235 formed and at 85 and 90 °C, only MIL-101 formed.

N, S doped carbon quantum dots inside mesoporous silica for effective adsorption of methylene blue dye

This study aimed to develop non-metal elements for doping carbon quantum dots (CQDs) with nitrogen and sulfur (N, S-CQDs), which loaded inside hexagonal mesoporous silica (HMS) in order to effectively remove methylene blue dye (MB) from an aqueous solution. The histidine and cysteine amino acids were used as the source for synthesis N, S-CQDs through the hydrothermal method. Morphology and structure of the N, S-CQDs, and adsorbent (N, S-CQDs/HMS) were characterized by using different microscopic and spectroscopic techniques. The adsorption parameters such as adsorbent dosage (0.25–1 g/L), pH (2–10), contact time (15–75 min), and initial MB dye concentration (20–300 mg/L) were investigated. The maximum adsorption capacity and removal efficiency of MB were determined at 370.4 mg/g and 97%, respectively, under optimum conditions at 303 K. The adsorption isotherm studies were fitted with the Freundlich isotherm equation, and the dye removal kinetics of the adsorbent followed the pseudo-second-order model. Thermodynamic studies showed that the adsorption process had exothermic and spontaneous behavior. The removal of MB next to the Rhodamine B and Reactive Black 5 dyes indicated that the N, S-CQDs/HMS had excellent selective behavior for MB absorption. This prepared adsorbent could be well recycled with suitable activity after four repeated adsorption–desorption cycles. Results revealed that the porous characters, surface area, charge properties, reduction in the bandgap, and quantum yield of the N, S-CQDs/HMS were essential factors that affected dye adsorption.

Engineered Fe3 triangle for the rapid and selective removal of aromatic cationic pollutants: complexity is not a necessity

In this study, a low-cost oxo-bridged {Fe3} triangular cluster was constructed based on a benzoate ligand via slow evaporation. The cluster was thoroughly characterized by FTIR and UV-visible spectroscopy, TGA, and PXRD, and the exact structure was elucidated by single-crystal XRD. The formation of C-H⋯π and π-π interactions is responsible for the extra stability of {Fe3} clusters, which further enhances the dye adsorption property. The dye adsorption experiments performed on cationic [methylene blue (MB) and rhodamine-B (Rh-B)] as well as anionic [methyl orange (MO) and congo red (CR)] dyes revealed the ultimate selectivity of the present cluster towards the cationic ones. The {Fe3} cluster exclusively adsorbs the cationic dyes, i.e., MB and Rh-B even in the presence of anionic dyes, i.e., CR and MO. The extra stability, reusability and high efficiency of the {Fe3} molecular ensemble make it an attractive and fascinating material of importance. The kinetics analysis was evaluated employing different kinetics models. Furthermore, the plausible adsorption mechanism was also proposed, which suggests the interplay of cation-π and π-π interactions consolidating the efficient adsorption. Thus, the present work opens new doors for coordination chemists to further tune the structural features to modulate the adsorption/separation capacities of simple low-cost clusters for environmental protection for future efforts.

Shapeable Aerogels of Metal-Organic-Frameworks Supported by Aramid Nanofibrils for Efficient Adsorption and Interception

The immobilization of the metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) on aerogels has risen to be a promising approach for the combination of advantages on both sides. Shapeable MOF hybrid aerogels were obtained by the growth of MOF crystals on aramid nanofibril (ANF) aerogels to retain high porosities, crystal structures, and original stabilities of individual MOFs and the mechanical robustness, flexibility, and low density of ANFs. The MOF hybrid aerogels exhibited superior adsorption performance for organic dyes (e.g., 113.8 mg/g for methyl violet and 107 mg/g of rhodamine B), offered a simple, efficient, and extensible platform for removing organic dyes from aqueous solution continuously, with high flux (620 L/(h·m²·bar) at a thickness of ∼0.87 mm) and excellent rejection (>98%). This work provided a practicable pathway to manage MOF crystals into a shapeable and recyclable form for extended applications in wide fields.

A facile one-step synthesis of super-hydrophilic (NH4)0.33WO3/WS2 composites: a highly efficient adsorbent for methylene blue

Super-hydrophilic ATBDs-3 composites synthesized using a hydrothermal method only needed less than 2 min to attain more than 80% of the MAC (80.45 mg g⁻¹).

A novel sustainable metal organic framework as the ultimate aqueous phase sensor for natural hazards: detection of nitrobenzene and F− at the ppb level and rapid and selective adsorption of methylene blue

A novel metal organic framework (MOF) exhibits good aqueous phase sensing properties towards nitrobenzene and fluoride anions and selective adsorption/separation ability for methylene blue.