A Zero-Gap Gas Phase Photoelectrolyzer for CO2 Reduction with Porous Carbon Supported Photocathodes

A modified Metal-Organic Framework UiO-66-NH2-based photocathode in a zero-gap gas phase photoelectrolyzer was applied for CO2 reduction. Four types of porous carbon fiber layers with different wettability were employed to tailor the local environment of the cathodic surface reactions, optimizing activity and selectivity towards formate, methanol, and ethanol. Results are explained by mass transport through the different type and arrangement of carbon fiber support layers in the photocathodes and the resulting local environment at the UiO-66-NH2 catalyst. The highest energy-to-fuel conversion efficiency of 1.06% towards hydrocarbons was achieved with the most hydrophobic carbon fiber (H23C2). The results are a step further in understanding how the design and composition of the electrodes in photoelectrochemical electrolyzers can impact the CO2 reduction efficiency and selectivity.

Adsorptive removal of heavy metals from aqueous solutions: Progress of adsorbents development and their effectiveness

Increased levels of heavy metals (HMs) in aquatic environments poses serious health and ecological concerns. Hence, several approaches have been proposed to eliminate/reduce the levels of HMs before the discharge/reuse of HMs-contaminated waters. Adsorption is one of the most attractive processes for water decontamination; however, the efficiency of this process greatly depends on the choice of adsorbent. Therefore, the key aim of this article is to review the progress in the development and application of different classes of conventional and emerging adsorbents for the abatement of HMs from contaminated waters. Adsorbents that are based on activated carbon, natural materials, microbial, clay minerals, layered double hydroxides (LDHs), nano-zerovalent iron (nZVI), graphene, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), metal organic frameworks (MOFs), and zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) are critically reviewed, with more emphasis on the last four adsorbents and their nanocomposites since they have the potential to significantly boost the HMs removal efficiency from contaminated waters. Furthermore, the optimal process conditions to achieve efficient performance are discussed. Additionally, adsorption isotherm, kinetics, thermodynamics, mechanisms, and effects of varying adsorption process parameters have been introduced. Moreover, heavy metal removal driven by other processes such as oxidation, reduction, and precipitation that might concurrently occur in parallel with adsorption have been reviewed. The application of adsorption for the treatment of real wastewater has been also reviewed. Finally, challenges, limitations and potential areas for improvements in the adsorptive removal of HMs from contaminated waters are identified and discussed. Thus, this article serves as a comprehensive reference for the recent developments in the field of adsorptive removal of heavy metals from wastewater. The proposed future research work at the end of this review could help in addressing some of the key limitations facing this technology, and create a platform for boosting the efficiency of the adsorptive removal of heavy metals.

Cr(VI) and doxorubicin adsorptive capture by a novel bionanocomposite of Ti-MOF@TiO2 incorporated with watermelon biochar and chitosan hydrogel

Biodegradable polymers, biochars and metal organic frameworks (MOFs) have manifested as top prospects for elimination of harmful pollutants. In the current study, Ti-MOF was synthesized and decorated with TiO2 nanoparticles, then embedded into watermelon peel biochar and functionalized with chitosan hydrogel to produce Ti-MOF@TiO2@WMPB@CTH. Various instruments were employed to assure the effective production of the bionanocomposite. The HR-TEM and SEM studies referred to excellent surface porosity and homogeneity of Ti-MOF@TiO2@WMPB@CTH bionanocomposite, with 51.02-74.23 nm. Based on the BET analysis, the mesoporous structure has a significant surface area of 366.04 m2 g-1 and a considerable total pore volume of 11.38 × 10-2 cm3 g-1, with a mean pore size of 12.434 nm. Removal of doxorubicin (DOX) and hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) was examined under various experimentations. Pseudo-second order kinetic models in addition to Langmuir isotherm offered the best fitting. Thermodynamic experiments of the two contaminants demonstrated spontaneous and endothermic interactions. After five subsequent adsorption and desorption cycles, Ti-MOF@TiO2@WMPB@CTH bionanocomposite demonstrated an exceptional recyclability for the elimination of DOX and Cr(VI) ions, reaching 97.96 % and 95.28 %, respectively. Finally, the newly designed Ti-MOF@TiO2@WMPB@CTH bionanocomposite demonstrated a high removing efficiency of Cr(VI) ions and DOX from samples of real water.

Metal-organic frameworks/cellulose hybrids with their modern technological implementation towards water treatment

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are amongst the most attractive porous polymeric networks with appealing properties. However, their inherent fragility, powder nature, low processibility, and handling present some exceptional challenges for high-tech commercial applications. Currently, economic and environmental concerns drive the development of some bioinspired polymeric matrices containing MOFs. As an artifact, the availability of previously unattainable properties is negotiated by conjugating cellulosic materials with crystalline MOFs. Thus, multi-dimensional organic-inorganic hybrid composites are formed with high electrical, optical, mechanical, and thermal features. These MOF/cellulose hybrids, known as CelloMOFs (cellulose MOFs), have remarkable mechanical properties with tunable porosities, specific surface area and accessible active sites, making them ideal for real-world troubleshooting applications such as wastewater treatment, chemical sensing, energy storage, and so on. In this review, current state-of-the-art strategic synthesis routes for fabrication of MOF/cellulose composites with a specific focus on CelloMOFs as a potential tool for mitigation of the targeted emerging water contaminants have been done under the same umbrella, which has previously been less explored. Streamlining discussions on general properties such as raw material selection, structural analysis of cellulose, availability of surface functional groups, cellulose-metal node interactions, cellulose charging, and so on have been emphasized, as has integration with robust MOFs. A better understanding of these fundamental properties is critical because they will have a significant impact on the performance of MOF/cellulose composites in a variety of applications. Furthermore, at the end of this review, the challenges and perspectives of using CelloMOFs have been discussed in a concise manner in order to improve their practical utility rather than just concept mapping.

MIL series of metal organic frameworks (MOFs) as novel adsorbents for heavy metals in water: A review

With large specific surface area, abundant adsorption sites, flexible pore structure, and good water stability, Materials of Institute Lavoisier frameworks (MILs) have attracted increasing attention as effective environmental adsorbents. This review systematically analyzes and recapitulates recent progress in the synthesis and application of MIL-based adsorbents for the removal of aqueous heavy metal ions. Commonly used solvothermal, microwave, electrochemical, ultrasonic, and mechanochemical syntheses of MILs are first summarized and compared. Instead of focusing on adsorption process parameters, adsorption performances and governing mechanisms of virgin MILs, functional MILs, MIL-based composites, and carbonized MILs to representative metal(loid) ions (chromium, arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury) in water under various conditions are then systematically reviewed and discussed. In the end, this work also outlines prospects and future directions to promote the applications of MILs in treating heavy metal contaminated water.

Oxygen-carrying biomimetic nanoplatform for sonodynamic killing of bacteria and treatment of infection diseases

Among various novel antimicrobial therapies, sonodynamic therapy (SDT) exhibits its advantages for the treatment of bacterial infections due to its high penetration depth and low side effects. In this study, a new nanosonosensitizer (HFH@ZIF-8) that loads sonosensitizer hematoporphyrin monomethyl ether (HMME) into zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8), was constructed for killing multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria and treatment of in vivo infection diseases by SDT. In particular, the developed HFH@ZIF-8 exhibited enhanced water-solubility, good biocompatibility, and improved disease-targeting capability for delivering and releasing HMME and ablating the infected lesion. More importantly, the presence of oxygen-carrying hemoglobin for HFH@ZIF-8 can offer sufficient oxygen consumption by SDT, augmenting the efficacy of SDT by improving ROS generating efficiency against deep tissue multidrug-resistant bacterial infection. Therefore, this study paves a new avenue for treating infection disease, particularly for antibiotic resistant bacterial infection.

Disposable biosensor based on novel ternary Ru-PEI@PCN-333(Al) self-enhanced electrochemiluminescence system for on-site determination of caspase-3 activity

The number of death due to cancer-related diseases each year is at the alarming level and is constantly growing. Tools that can effectively and conveniently detect cancer cell apoptosis can play a significant role in cancer research, cancer therapy, and other related industries. Herein, we fabricated, for the first time, an ultrasensitive, disposable, self-enhanced off-on electrochemiluminescence (ECL) biosensor based on ternary Ru-PEI@PCN-333(Al) system to determine caspase-3 activity, the biomarker of apoptosis. The biosensor had a low detection limit of 0.017 pg/mL and was able to enhance the ECL emission and stability. A solid-state (SS) ECL strategy was adopted to overcome the relatively weak ECL emission due to the long distance between electrochemiluminophore and electrode surface. The analysis requires only one incubation step, which can significantly reduce the operational complexity and time. The biosensor had higher sensitivity, and the off-on ECL mode was achieved using caspase-3 as a switch. The on-site and rapid detection capability of the biosensor was achieved by the introduction of disposable screen-printed electrodes (SPEs). This study lays a foundation for the development of more advanced, ingenious, portable and reliable ECL devices for biosensing not only caspase-3, but also other bioanalytes.

Structure engineering of lanthanide functionalized metal-organic frameworks: A versatile tool for the early diagnosis of pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas

As a main extracellular metabolite of dopamine, 3-methoxytyramine (3-MT) is considered a potential biomarker of pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas. Therefore, the determination of 3-MT is of great significance in the early diagnosis of disease. However, it remains challenging for detecting 3-MT in consideration of sensitivity and accuracy. Here, a luminescent  Eu³⁺ functionalized metal-organic frameworks （Eu³⁺@Al-MOF）with ultra-high chemical stability was constructed based on postsynthetic modification. Such a rational design greatly enhances the fluorescence signal of Eu³⁺@Al-MOF and it is endowed with excellent properties as a luminescent sensor to detect 3-MT in urine system. Intriguingly, the strong red emitting derived from antenna effect was significantly interdicted upon addition of 3-MT through the interaction between 3-MT and the ligand. The proposed sensing system exhibited many appealing analytical performances, such as excellent selectivity, high sensitivity and quick response. Remarkably, the developed paper-based sensor not only provides a portable and reliable strategy for direct detection of 3-MT but also expands the application of visual analysis tools. This work represents the first effort in designing a luminescent sensor to determine the metabolite biomarker 3-MT level and provides a new method for biomedical analysis.

Adsorption removal of ibuprofen and naproxen from aqueous solution with Cu-doped Mil-101(Fe)

Due to the excellent anti-inflammatory effect, ibuprofen and naproxen have been widely used in the people's daily life, which inevitably leads to their pollution in natural water environment. The removal of these chemicals from water has drawn great interests. Here, a new Cu-doped Mil-101(Fe) was synthesized through a one-step solvothermal method and successfully applied for the adsorption removal of ibuprofen and naproxen from water. A series of characterization techniques (FESEM, TEM, N₂ adsorption-desorption analysis, XRD and FT-IR) were applied to explore the physicochemical properties of the prepared Cu-doped Mil-101(Fe). The adsorption performances of the Cu-doped Mil-101(Fe) for ibuprofen and naproxen, including the adsorption kinetics and isotherms, and effects of diverse influencing factors (pH, ionic strength, and natural organic matter) were examined through batch experiments. The adsorption kinetics and isotherms of ibuprofen and naproxen on the Cu-doped Mil-101(Fe) fitted well with the pseudo-second-order model and Langmuir model, respectively. The maximum adsorption capacities of Cu-doped Mil-101(Fe) were 497.3 and 396.5 mg/g for ibuprofen and naproxen, respectively. The pH of solution in a range of 3-9 exerted no significant effects on the adsorption process. The adsorption was almost unaffected by the ionic strength and humic acid. The π-π interaction and hydrogen bond interaction between the adsorbent and adsorbates were found to be accountable for adsorption. The Cu-doped Mil-101(Fe) was readily regenerated by ethanol and could be repeatedly used.

Pro-oxidant drug-loaded porphyrinic zirconium metal-organic-frameworks for cancer-specific sonodynamic therapy

Sonodynamic therapy, which utilizes ultrasound (US) to produce cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS), can overcome the critical drawbacks of photodynamic therapy, such as limited tissue penetration depth. However, the development of sonosensitizers having superior sonodynamic effects and desirable biocompatibility remains a major challenge. In this study, nanoscale zirconium-based porphyrinic metal organic frameworks (MOFs) (PCN-222) were developed as safe and effective nanosonosensitizers. Polyethylene glycol (PEG)-coated PCN-222 (PEG-PCN) was loaded with a pro-oxidant drug, piperlongumine (PL), to enable tumor-specific chemo-photodynamic combination therapy. Both PEG-PCN and PL-incorporated PEG-PCN (PL-PEG-PCN) showed high colloidal stability in biological media. In addition, nanoscale PL-PEG-PCN was efficiently internalized by breast cancer cells, leading to substantially increased ROS generation under US exposure. The effective intracellular delivery of PL by PEG-PCN further elevated the level of intracellular ROS in breast cancer cells owing to the pro-oxidative activity of PL. Therefore, PL-PEG-PCN revealed significantly higher sonotoxicity than free PL and PEG-PCN. Owing to the cancer-specific apoptosis triggered by PL, PL-PEG-PCN showed cancer-selective cell death in breast cancer cells compared with normal fibroblast cells. This study demonstrates that pro-oxidant drug-loaded porphyrinic MOFs are biocompatible and effective sonosensitizers for cancer-targeted chemo-sonodynamic combination therapy.

High-performance lanthanum-based metal-organic framework with ligand tuning of the microstructures for removal of fluoride from water

Excess fluoride in water poses a threat to ecology and human health, which has attracted global attention. In this study, a series of lanthanum-based metal-organic frameworks (La-MOFs) were synthesized by varying the organic ligands (i.e., terephthalic acid (BDC), trimesic acid (BTC), biphenyl-4,4-dicarboxylic acid (BPDC), 2,5-dihydroxyterephthalic acid (BHTA), and 1,2,4,5-benzenetetracarboxylic acid (PMA)) to control the microscopic structure of the MOFs and subsequently apply them for the removal of fluoride in water. The maximum capture capacities of La-BTC, La-BPDC, La-BHTA, La-PMA, and La-BDC at 298 K are 105.2, 125.9, 145.5, 158.9, and 171.7 mg g^-1, respectively. The adsorption capacity is greater than most reported adsorbents. The adsorption isotherms of La-MOFs for fluoride are well fit to the Langmuir isotherm model. In addition, the adsorption kinetics of La-BTC, La-BPDC, La-BHTA, La-PMA, and La-BDC follows the pseudo-second-order kinetic model, and the kinetic rate-limiting step of adsorption is chemical adsorption. Thermodynamics revealed that temperature is favorable for the adsorption of fluoride. Meanwhile, La-BTC, La-BPDC, La-BHTA, La-PMA, and La-BDC are suitable for the removal of fluoride in a relatively wide pH range (4.0-9.0). Simultaneously, from X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis, electrostatic attraction and ligand exchange are identified as the main action mechanisms for the adsorption of fluoride of La-MOFs. The prepared La-MOFs are used as efficient adsorbents for removal of fluoride in actual water, indicating that they have great potential in removing fluoride in real and complex environmental water. This work provides a new strategy for designing adsorbents with adjustable microstructure and expected function to effectively recover fluorosis in water.

A review of metal organic framework (MOFs)-based materials for antibiotics removal via adsorption and photocatalysis

Antibiotic abuse has led to serious water pollution and severe harm to human health; therefore, there is an urgent need for antibiotic removal from water sources. Adsorption and photodegradation are two ideal water treatment methods because they are cheap, simple to operate, and reusable. Metal organic frameworks (MOFs) are excellent adsorbents and photocatalysts because of their high porosity, adaptability, and good crystal form. The aim of this study is to suggest ways to overcome the limitations of adsorption and photocatalysis treatment methods by reviewing previous applications of MOFs to antibiotic adsorption and photocatalysis. The different factors influencing these processes are also discussed, as well as the various adsorption and photocatalysis mechanisms. This study provides a valuable resource for researchers intending to use MOFs to remove antibiotics from water bodies.

Design and application of metal-organic frameworks and derivatives as heterogeneous Fenton-like catalysts for organic wastewater treatment: A review

Advanced oxidation process (AOP), with a high oxidation efficiency, fast reaction speed (relatively no secondary pollution), has become one of the core technologies of industrial wastewater and advanced drinking water treatment. Heterogeneous Fenton-like oxidation process (HFOP) is a kind of AOP, which developed rapidly in recent years in such a way to overcome the disadvantages of traditional Fenton reaction. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and their derivatives become essential heterogeneous catalysts for organics mineralization due to the large specific surface area, abundant active sites, and ease of structural regulation. However, the knowledge gap on the mechanism and the fate of heterogeneous catalyst species during organics degradation activities by MOFs presents considerable impediments, particularly for a wide application and scaling up the process. This work has the potential to provide guidance and ideas for researchers and engineers in the fields of environmental remediation, environmental catalysis and functional materials. This review focuses on clarifying the critical mechanism of •OH production from MOFs and derivatives as well as its action on the organic's degradation process. The recent developments in MOF based HFOP are compared, and more attention is paid for the following aspects in this review: (1) classifies systematically progressive modification methods of MOFs by chemical and physical treatments; (2) analyzes the fate of catalytic species during treating organic wastewater; (3) proposes design ideas and principles for improving the performance of MOFs catalysts; (4) discusses the main factors influencing the catalytic properties and practical application; (5) summarizes the possible research challenges and directions for MOFs and their derivatives as catalysts applied to wastewater treatment in the future.

Dual-functional lanthanide metal organic frameworks for visual and ultrasensitive ratiometric fluorescent detection of phosphate based on aggregation-induced energy transfer

Phosphate (Pi) not only plays a significant role in physiological processes, but also is an important indicator for aquatic ecosystems. The dual-functional lanthanide metal organic frameworks (MOFs) were synthesized for visual and ultrasensitive ratiometric fluorescent detection of Pi based on aggregation-induced energy transfer. In the MOFs material, ciprofloxacin (CIP) functions as an energy donor and results in the fluorescence enhancement of Eu³⁺; the introduction of pyromellitic acid can cause the aggregation of the CIP-Eu³⁺ complex, and red characteristic fluorescence of Eu³⁺ at 614 nm is further enhanced (about 40 times). When Pi is added to the MOFs solution, CIP is released from the MOFs, red fluorescence of Eu³⁺ is quenched and blue fluorescence of CIP is simultaneously recovered, thereby a ratiometric fluorescent probe for the detection of Pi was fabricated. The fluorescent response based on intermolecular energy transfer of the CIP-Eu³⁺ complex is very sensitive to Pi. The limit of detection (3σ/K) of the probe is ultrasensitive and attains 4.4 nM. The possible interferential substances such as 17 common metal ions and 14 anions investigated do not interfere with the Pi detection. The ratiometric fluorescent probe has been successfully used in the determination of Pi in real human urine and lake water samples. This work may supply a new strategy for fabricating ratiometric fluorescent probe and a prospective application in biological and environmental samples.

Synthesis and application of Cu-BTC@ZSM-5 composites as effective adsorbents for removal of toluene gas under moist ambience: kinetics, thermodynamics, and mechanism studies

Metal organic frameworks (MOFs) are excellent adsorbents that provide abundant specific surface area, adjustable pore structure, and rich active sites. The purpose of this study was to prepare composites with hydrophobic and high microporous specific surface area and to adsorb toluene gas in moist ambience. An ethanol activation-assisted hydrothermal method was proposed to synthesize copper-benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylic acid (Cu-BTC) metal-organic framework, Cu-BTC, and ZSM-5 molecular sieve composites (Cu-BTC@ZSM-5). The dynamic adsorption process of toluene on different adsorbents was investigated, and the results showed that the toluene adsorption capacity of Cu-BTC@ZSM-5 (158.6 mg/g) was 2.53 times higher than Cu-BTC (62.7 mg/g), when the ZSM-5 content is 5% and the humidity is 30%RH. Compared with other factors, the humidity inhibited the adsorption of toluene on Cu-BTC@ZSM-5. Langmuir model and the pseudo-second kinetics model can better describe the adsorption behavior of Cu-BTC@ZSM-5. The thermodynamic results showed the adsorption process was a spontaneous exothermic process at low temperature and mainly physical adsorption. The relative regenerability can still up to 80.4% after six cycles. The adsorption mechanisms of Cu-BTC@ZSM-5 were pore-filling adsorption, π-π interaction, cation-π bonding, and hydrophobic interactions. This study will help to design a systematic route to evaluate the adsorption performance of Cu-BTC@ZSM-5 for toluene.

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.

Adsorption properties of advanced functional materials against gaseous formaldehyde

Intense efforts have been made to eliminate toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in indoor environments, especially formaldehyde (FA). In this study, the removal performances of gaseous FA using two metal-organic frameworks, MOF-5 and UiO-66-NH₂, and two covalent-organic polymers, CBAP-1 (EDA) and CBAP-1 (DETA), along with activated carbon as a conventional reference material, were evaluated. To assess the removal capacity of FA under near-ambient conditions, a series of adsorption experiments were conducted at its concentrations/partial pressures of both low (0.1-0.5 ppm/0.01-0.05 Pa) and high ranges (5-25 ppm/0.5-2.5 Pa). Among all tested materials at the high-pressure region ㅐ (e.g., at 2.5 ppm FA), a maximum adsorption capacity of 69.7 mg g^-1 was recorded by UiO-66-NH₂. Moreover, UiO-66-NH₂ also displayed the best 10% breakthrough volume (BTV10) of 534 L g^-1 (0.5 ppm FA) to 2963 L g^-1 (0.1 ppm FA). In contrast, at the high concentration test (at 5, 10, and 25 ppm FA), the maximum BTV10 values were observed as: 137 (UiO-66-NH₂), 144 (CBAP-1 (DETA)), and 36.8 L g^-1 (CBAP-1 (EDA)), respectively. The Langmuir isotherm model was observed to be a better fit of the adsorption data than the Freundlich model under most of the tested conditions. The superiority of UiO-66-NH₂ was attributed to the van der Waals interactions between the linkers (framework) and the hydrocarbon "tail" (FA) coupled with interactions between its open metal sites and the FA carbonyl groups. This study demonstrated the good potential of these advanced functional materials toward the practical removal of gaseous FA in indoor environments.

Evaluation of phosphate removal from aqueous solution using metal organic framework; isotherm, kinetic and thermodynamic study

BACKGROUND

Phosphate (PO₄ ^3-) is the main etiological factor of eutrophication in surface waters. Metal organic frameworks (MOFs) are novel hybrid materials with amazing structural properties that make them a prominent material for adsorption.

METHODS

Zeolitic imidazolate framework 67 (ZIF-67), a water stable member of MOFs, with a truncated rhombic dodecahedron crystalline structure was synthesized in aqueous environment at room temperature and then characterized using XRD and SEM. PO₄ ^3- adsorption from synthetic solutions using ZIF-67 in batch mode were evaluated and a polynomial model (R²: 0.99, R² _adj: 0.98, LOF: 0.1433) developed using response surface methodology (RSM).

RESULTS

The highest PO₄ ^3- removal (99.2%) after model optimization obtained when ZIF-67 dose, pH and mixing time adjusted to 6.82, 832.4 mg/L and 39.95 min, respectively. The optimum PO₄ ^3- concentration in which highest PO₄ ^3- removal and lowest adsorbent utilization occurs, observed at 30 mg/L. PO₄ ^3- removal eclipsed significantly in the presence of carbonate. The equilibrium and kinetic models showed that PO₄ ^3- adsorbed in monolayer (q_max: 92.43 mg/g) and the sorption process controlled in the sorption stage. Adsorption was also more favorable at higher PO₄ ^3- concentration, according to the separation factor (K_R) graph. Thermodynamic parameters (minus signs of ∆G°, ∆H° of 0.179 KJ/mol and ∆S° of 44.91 KJ/mol.K) demonstrate the spontaneous, endothermic and physisorption nature of the process.

CONCLUSION

High adsorption capacity and adsorption rates, make ZIF-67 a promising adsorbent for PO₄ ^3- removal from aqueous environment.