Efficient removal of heavy metals using 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid-modified zirconium-based organic frameworks

Water contamination by heavy metals due to various anthropogenic activities has grown to be a serious global issue that needs to be addressed to ensure effective remediation. Recently, Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs), a class of porous materials, have emerged as promising candidates for heavy metals removal. In this study, we synthesized and evaluated a novel 1,3,5-benzene tricarboxylic acid (BTC)-based metal-organic framework (UIO-66-BTC(Zr)) for its ability to adsorb heavy metal Pb(II) from wastewater. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) characterization methods were used to demonstrate the effective synthesis of UIO-66-BTC(Zr). The proposed mechanisms for the binding of UIO-66-BTC(Zr) to Pb(II) were identified as chelation/coordination, pore filling, and electrostatic interaction steps. According to our findings, UIO-66-BTC(Zr) has a remarkable Pb(II) adsorption capacity of 881.35 mg/g and exhibits significant selectivity for Pb(II) ions in solution over Cd(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), and Ni(II) ions. Additionally, the crystal structure of the adsorbed MOF remained stable, and its adsorption performance remained consistent over five cycles, signifying its potential as a sustainable and efficient adsorbent for removing Pb(II) from real-world effluents. The findings of this study open up significant prospects for the application of UIO-66-BTC(Zr) as a new adsorbent in the removal of hazardous Pb(II) contaminants from industrial wastewater. Moreover, this research serves as a crucial basis for advancing studies on cost-effective and environmentally friendly modification/synthesis methods for upscaling MOF production and its wider application for the removal of hazardous contaminants