Simultaneous removal of carcinogenic anionic and cationic dyes from environmental water using a new Zn-based metal–organic framework

ABSTRACT

Herein we reported a new Zn²⁺ metal–organic framework (MOF) (based on adipic acid as a linker and benzylimidazole as a ligand) (ABim-Zn-MOF) adsorbent material for the efficient removal of cationic (methylene blue, MB) and anionic dyes (Chicago sky blue, CSB. The newly synthesized adsorbent exhibits excellent adsorption capacity calculated to be 144.26 and 174.64 mg g⁻¹ for CSB and MB, respectively. The kinetic model analysis indicated that the synthesized MOF followed the pseudo-second-order rate model with calculated R² value of 0.991 and 0.993 for CSB and MB, respectively. The adsorbent also exhibited excellent application in environmental wastewater treatment with 98% recovery for the mixture of dyes in real water sample.

KEYWORDS:

• Metal–organic framework
• adipic acid
• benzylimidazole
• cationic and anionic dyes
• adsorption

Acknowledgements

Financial support from University Malaya Faculty Research Grant (GPF049B-2018), IPPP grant (PG116-2014B), and Higher Education Commission of Pakistan under FDP is acknowledged.

Conflict of interest statement

All authors declare there is no conflict of interest in this manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan under FDP [FDP Faculty development programm];University Malaya Faculty Research Grant [(GPF049B-2018), IPPP grant (PG116-2014B)].