Immobilization of UiO-66-NH2 into Bacterial Cellulose Aerogels for Efficient Particulate Matter Filtration

Abstract

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) hold great potential for efficient removal of particulate matter (PM) due to their high porosity and tunable surface groups. In this work, sustainable bacterial cellulose (BC) was employed as a substrate for Zr-based MOF (i.e., UiO-66-NH2) deposition. Specifically, the UiO-66-NH2@BC aerogel exhibits a multi-level pore structure with a specific surface area of 103 m2/g. Pristine BC aerogels indicated a removal efficiency of 50.6% for PM2.5, with a pressure drop of 22.8 Pa. While UiO-66-NH2@BC aerogels showed a PM2.5 removal efficiency of 96.9%. The filtration mechanism can be assigned to the following reasons: (i) the interception/impaction of PM with the fibrous and porous aerogel network; and (ii) the presence of polar amine groups that boost electrostatic interactions between PM and MOFs. Moreover, as-prepared filters can be regenerated in a facile way with good reusability and long-term stability.