Grafting Zirconium-Based Metal-Organic Framework UiO-66-NH2 Nanoparticles on Cellulose Fibers for the Removal of Cr(VI) Ions and Methyl Orange from Water

A one-pot synthesis to graft nanocrystallites of the UiO-66-NH2 MOF on cellulose fibers is described. The grafting process is facilitated by surface functionalization of the cellulose fibers, to express terminal carboxylate groups that act as anchoring sites to coordinate Zr(IV) ions. The stirred reaction mixture ensured rapid nucleation on the porous support surface, and the subsequent homogeneous and complete coverage of the MOF atop the substrate fibers. The method applied to filter membrane demonstrated rapid and effective removal of model contaminants, dichromate ions containing Cr(VI) and methyl orange (MO), (78.2% and 84.5% for Cr(VI) and MO removal, respectively, with in-line filtration setup) from simulated wastewater aqueous solution. This approach delineates an efficient pathway toward grafting the water stable, functional, and microporous Zr-based MOF atop porous support, with potential far reaching applications.