Remarkably efficient adsorbent for the removal of bisphenol A from water: Bio-MOF-1-derived porous carbon

Bio-MOF-1, Zn-8(adenine)(4)(biphenyldicarboxylate)(6)O, was synthesized and used as a precursor for the first time in order to fabricate porous carbons by carbonization of the MOF. The characterization of Bio-MOF-1-derived carbons (BMDCs) revealed that the BMDCs are highly porous carbons (O- and N-doped, with a high degree of graphitization), which might be attractive materials for the study of adsorption. BMDCs, together with a commercial activated carbon (AC), were applied for the adsorption of bisphenol A (BPA), a typical endocrine-disrupting compound, from water. The BMDC-12h adsorbent showed an efficiency similar to 5-times (in terms of q(12h), the adsorbed quantity at 12 h) of that of a commercial AC in BPA capture. More importantly, BMDC-12h exhibited the best performance for BPA uptake among the reported adsorbents so far. H-bonding is anticipated as the principal mechanism based on the functional groups present in BPA and those produced on BMDC-12h and the effect of solution pH on the BPA adsorption capacities. Moreover, BMDC-12h can be recycled by simple solvent washing and effectively used in subsequent cycles with negligible loss of performance. Therefore, BMDCs, particularly BMDC-12h, were suggested as remarkably efficient and easily recyclable adsorbents for water purification via BPA adsorption.