Facile Synthesis of Fe-based MOFs(Fe-BTC) as Efficient Adsorbent for Water Purifications

Abstract

Fe-based metal-organic frameworks(Fe-BTC) were successfully synthesized in a large scale by using a simple one-pot method at room temperature. To understand its composition, texture and morphology, the as-synthesized material was analyzed systematically. Moreover, based on the adsorption property for anionic organic dyes(methyl orange, Congo red), cationic organic dyes(methylene blue, rhodamine B) and heavy metal ions(Pb2+) in aqueous solutions, it was revealed that the obtained Fe-BTC showed excellent capacities and adsorption rates for different adsorbates. Besides the general adsorption effect derived from the numerous pores and large specific surface area, the electrostatic forces and π-π interactions between benzene rings are believed to play significant roles in the large uptakes of this Fe-BTC sample. And the existence of mesopores in Fe-BTC might accelerate the adsorption.