Green Photocatalysis of Organic Pollutants by Bimetallic Zn-Zr Metal-Organic Framework Catalyst

Xiaojuan Zhang; Rongfei Yu; Dandan Wang; Weihua Li; Yutao Zhang

doi:10.3389/fchem.2022.918941

Green Photocatalysis of Organic Pollutants by Bimetallic Zn-Zr Metal-Organic Framework Catalyst

Front Chem. 2022 May 11:10:918941. doi: 10.3389/fchem.2022.918941. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Xiaojuan Zhang^{1

2

3}, Rongfei Yu¹, Dandan Wang¹, Weihua Li^{2

3}, Yutao Zhang^{1

2

3}

Affiliations

¹ School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Anshun University, Anshun, China.
² University Rural Revitalization Research Center in Guizhou, Anshun, China.
³ Engineering Technology Center of Control and Remediation of Soil Contamination of Guizhou Science and Technology Department, Anshun, China.

Abstract

A series of bimetallic Zn-Zr metal-organic frameworks (Zn-Zr MOFs) with different Zn:Zr molar ratios has been synthesized via a green hydrothermal method. The structures and morphologies of these photocatalysts have been characterized and analyzed by FTIR, XRD, SEM, and nitrogen adsorption-desorption. The prepared Zn-Zr MOFs had large specific surface areas and pore volumes, favoring the adsorption of pollutant molecules, which in turn led to an improved photocatalytic effect. The photocatalytic activities of the Zn-Zr MOFs under visible light irradiation have been studied towards rhodamine B (RhB) as a target pollutant. The extent of degradation of RhB in a 40 mg/L aqueous solution reached 97.4%. The optimal photocatalyst could also degrade other dyes, suggesting a certain degree of universality.

Keywords: bimetallic; dye wastewater treatment; green photocatalysis; metal-organic framework; rhodamine B.