MIL-101(Fe)/polysulfone hollow microspheres from pickering emulsion template for effective photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue

The utilization of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) as photocatalysts for the degradation of organic pollutants has gained significant attention in recent years, yet the challenge of recycling MOFs has hindered their widespread use. In this study, we have fabricated a novel MIL-101(Fe)/Polysulfone (MP) composite hollow microsphere via a Pickering emulsion template approach for the application in photo-Fenton degradation of methylene Blue (MB). Our results revealed that the loading of MIL-101(Fe) plays a crucial role in determining the porosity, density, and optical properties of the MP composite microspheres. The MP composite microspheres exhibited excellent MB removal performance and showed a higher adsorption rate compared to MIL-101(Fe) and Polysulfone (PSF). The enhanced performance can be attributed to the porous structure and electrostatic attraction between MB+ and negatively charged PSF materials. Additionally, the MP composite microspheres displayed good degradation efficiency and a high degree of reusability, remaining stable even after 5 cycles. These results demonstrate that the MP composite microsphere is a highly effective, reusable, and durable photocatalyst for the treatment of water and organic pollutants.

Automated summary

In this study, a novel MIL-101(Fe)/Polysulfone (MP) composite hollow microsphere was fabricated via a Pickering emulsion template approach. The loading of MIL-101(Fe) played a crucial role in determining the porosity, density, and optical properties of the MP composite microspheres. The MP composite microspheres showed excellent MB removal performance, higher adsorption rate compared to MIL-101(Fe) and Polysulfone (PSF), and good degradation efficiency and reusability.