MIL-53(Fe) as a highly efficient bifunctional photocatalyst for the simultaneous reduction of Cr(VI) and oxidation of dyes

A bifunctional photocatalyst-Fe-benzenedicarboxylate (MIL-53(Fe)) has been synthesized successfully via a facile solvothermal method. The resulting MIL-53(Fe) photocatalyst exhibited an excellent visible light (λ ≥ 420 nm) photocatalytic activity for the reduction of Cr(VI), the reduction rate have reached about 100% after 40 min of visible light irradiation, which has been more efficient than that of N-doped TiO2 (85%) under identical experimental conditions. Further experimental results have revealed that the photocatalytic activity of MIL-53(Fe) for the reduction of Cr(VI) can be drastically affected by the pH value of the reaction solution, the hole scavenger and atmosphere. Moreover, MIL-53(Fe) has exhibited considerable photocatalytic activity in the mixed systems (Cr(VI)/dyes). After 6 h of visible light illumination, the reduction ratio of Cr(VI) and the degradation ratio of dyes have been exceed 60% and 80%, respectively. More significantly, the synergistic effect can also be found during the process of photocatalytic treatment of Cr(VI) contained wastewater under the same photocatalytic reaction conditions, which makes it a potential candidate for environmental restoration. Finally, a possible reaction mechanism has also been investigated in detail.