Fabrication of biodegradable cellulose acetate/MOF-derived porous carbon nanocomposite adsorbent for methylene blue removal from aqueous solutions

In this research, a novel biodegradable cellulose acetate (CA)-based nanocomposite adsorbent filled with metal-organic framework-derived porous carbon (MOF-DPC) nanoparticles was fabricated through the phase inversion method for methylene blue (MB) removal from aqueous solution. The MOF-DPC nanoparticles were synthesized via one-step carbonization of MOF-5 at 1000 degrees C under an argon environment. The synthesized MOF-DPC nanoparticles were characterized by HR-TEM, SEM, BET, XRD, Raman, and FTIR analyses, while the fabricated CA/MOF-DPC adsorbent by FTIR and TGA analyses. The effects of various parameters such as MOF-DPC loading (0-2 wt%), solution pH (3-11), initial MB concentration (5-200 mg L-1), solution temperature (25-65 degrees C), and contact time (0-960 min) on decolorization behavior of the fabricated CA/MOF-DPC adsorbent were investigated. A high removal efficiency (87.72%) and an acceptable adsorption capacity (41.36 mg g(-1)) were achieved at the optimum conditions (2 wt% MOF-DPC loading, pH value of 11, MB concentration of 50 mg L-1, temperature of 65 degrees C and contact time of 6 h). The kinetic and equilibrium data were fitted well by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model (R-2 = 0.9945) and the Freundlich adsorption isotherm model (R-2 = 0.9886), respectively. The thermodynamic investigations confirmed that the adsorption is endothermic and spontaneous at higher temperatures. This study has recommended the fabricated CA/MOF-DPC nanocomposite as a promising adsorbent for the treatment of wastewaters.

Automated summary

A novel CA/MOF-DPC nanocomposite adsorbent was fabricated for methylene blue removal from aqueous solution, achieving high removal efficiency and acceptable adsorption capacity under optimal conditions.