Pore engineering of a Quasi-MOF-801 with unsaturated metal site and modulate porosity for selective and effective phosphate uptake

MOF-801, a highly water-stable metal-organic framework, underwent carefully monitored thermal treatment at temperatures between 240 and 300 °C for the development of defective quasi-MOF. The treatment leads to the formation of structural defects, more porosity, and the elimination of ligands. The resulting quasi-MOF-801, which structurally connects crystalline materials and the associated metal oxides, serves as a unique and very effective phosphate adsorbent thanks to its many free adsorption sites. The findings showed that the free open metals site was crucial in forming the binding with phosphate. Q-M801-280 (quasi MOF-801 heated to 280 °C) exhibited the highest adsorption capacity (415 mg. g−1) with a broad pH range of 3–11 and high phosphate selectivity when there are competing anions present. The created Q801-280 is an effective adsorbent that may be utilized to reduce the growing eutrophication of water through phosphate uptake.