Effective triclosan removal by using porous aromatic frameworks in continuous fixed-bed column studies

Triclosan (TCS) has been regarded as an emerging contaminant in aquatic systems, making its efficient removal of great significance. In this study, NPVMo@iPAF-1, with a specific surface area of 665 m2/g, was prepared by incorporating (NH4)5H6PV8Mo4O40 into porous aromatic frameworks (PAF). The maximum adsorption capacity of TCS on NPVMo@iPAF-1 reached 917.1 mg/g, as calculated from the Langmuir model. Fixed-bed columns packed with NPVMo@iPAF-1 were employed for TCS removal; the experiment data strongly correlated with the Thomas and Yoon-Nelson models under different operational conditions. Pore preservation, electrostatic effects, and the synergistic effect of pi-pi interactions contributed to the effective adsorption of TCS onto NPVMo@iPAF-1. The NPVMo@iPAF-1 fixed-bed column could be effectively regenerated through in-situ ozonation for more than 10 regeneration cycles. NPVMo@iPAF-1 turned out to be a promising adsorbent for removing TCS not only from pure water but also from reclaimed water and surface water samples.

Automated summary

In this study, NPVMo@iPAF-1 with a specific surface area of 665 m2/g was successfully prepared and exhibited a high adsorption capacity for TCS removal. The mechanism of TCS adsorption onto NPVMo@iPAF-1 was investigated, and the material showed excellent regeneration performance.