Green Fabrication of Zinc-Based Metal–Organic Frameworks@Bacterial Cellulose Aerogels via In Situ Mineralization for Wastewater Treatment

Compared to conventional adsorbents, zinc-based metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) such as zeolite imidazolium skeleton-8 (ZIF-8) exhibit enhanced thermal, chemical, and structural stability. Nonetheless, their powdered form results in limited dispersibility in aqueous solutions and a tendency to aggre...

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Main Authors: Xinru Liu, Jie Gu, Yongqi Cao, Liping Tan, Tongjun Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Molecules
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/5/982
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author Xinru Liu
Jie Gu
Yongqi Cao
Liping Tan
Tongjun Liu
author_facet Xinru Liu
Jie Gu
Yongqi Cao
Liping Tan
Tongjun Liu
author_sort Xinru Liu
collection DOAJ
description Compared to conventional adsorbents, zinc-based metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) such as zeolite imidazolium skeleton-8 (ZIF-8) exhibit enhanced thermal, chemical, and structural stability. Nonetheless, their powdered form results in limited dispersibility in aqueous solutions and a tendency to aggregate, which significantly restricts their utility in adsorption applications. This study reports a green composite aerogel through the in situ mineralization of ZIF-8 onto bacterial cellulose (BC) for the effective removal of toxic metal ions (Cu<sup>2+</sup>) and Congo red (CR) from wastewater. The ZIF@BC composite aerogel was characterized using scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and specific surface area analysis. The findings indicated that the ZIF-8 produced were evenly distributed across the BC nanonetwork, facilitating effective adsorption of CR and Cu<sup>2+</sup>. The maximum adsorption capacities of the ZIF@BC aerogels were determined to be 397.55 mg/g for CR and 424.80 mg/g for Cu<sup>2+</sup>, as per the Langmuir isotherm. Furthermore, the ZIF-8@BC aerogels demonstrated excellent selectivity and reusability, particularly for CR adsorption. The proposed mechanism for the interaction between the composite aerogel and CR and Cu<sup>2+</sup> involves electrostatic interactions, hydrogen bonding, π-π bonding, coordination bonding, ion exchange, microchemical precipitation, and pore diffusion. This research offers significant promise for the utilization of MOF powders and highlights substantial industrial potential.
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spelling doaj-art-d53dfb27cc4c4754b4681a7a390c37d52025-08-20T02:53:21ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492025-02-0130598210.3390/molecules30050982Green Fabrication of Zinc-Based Metal–Organic Frameworks@Bacterial Cellulose Aerogels via In Situ Mineralization for Wastewater TreatmentXinru Liu0Jie Gu1Yongqi Cao2Liping Tan3Tongjun Liu4Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Engineering, Department of Bioengineering, Qilu University of Technology, Shandong Academy of Sciences, Jinan 250353, ChinaShandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Engineering, Department of Bioengineering, Qilu University of Technology, Shandong Academy of Sciences, Jinan 250353, ChinaShandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Engineering, Department of Bioengineering, Qilu University of Technology, Shandong Academy of Sciences, Jinan 250353, ChinaShandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Engineering, Department of Bioengineering, Qilu University of Technology, Shandong Academy of Sciences, Jinan 250353, ChinaShandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Engineering, Department of Bioengineering, Qilu University of Technology, Shandong Academy of Sciences, Jinan 250353, ChinaCompared to conventional adsorbents, zinc-based metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) such as zeolite imidazolium skeleton-8 (ZIF-8) exhibit enhanced thermal, chemical, and structural stability. Nonetheless, their powdered form results in limited dispersibility in aqueous solutions and a tendency to aggregate, which significantly restricts their utility in adsorption applications. This study reports a green composite aerogel through the in situ mineralization of ZIF-8 onto bacterial cellulose (BC) for the effective removal of toxic metal ions (Cu<sup>2+</sup>) and Congo red (CR) from wastewater. The ZIF@BC composite aerogel was characterized using scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and specific surface area analysis. The findings indicated that the ZIF-8 produced were evenly distributed across the BC nanonetwork, facilitating effective adsorption of CR and Cu<sup>2+</sup>. The maximum adsorption capacities of the ZIF@BC aerogels were determined to be 397.55 mg/g for CR and 424.80 mg/g for Cu<sup>2+</sup>, as per the Langmuir isotherm. Furthermore, the ZIF-8@BC aerogels demonstrated excellent selectivity and reusability, particularly for CR adsorption. The proposed mechanism for the interaction between the composite aerogel and CR and Cu<sup>2+</sup> involves electrostatic interactions, hydrogen bonding, π-π bonding, coordination bonding, ion exchange, microchemical precipitation, and pore diffusion. This research offers significant promise for the utilization of MOF powders and highlights substantial industrial potential.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/5/982metal–organic frameworkbacterial celluloseadsorptionwastewater
spellingShingle Xinru Liu
Jie Gu
Yongqi Cao
Liping Tan
Tongjun Liu
Green Fabrication of Zinc-Based Metal–Organic Frameworks@Bacterial Cellulose Aerogels via In Situ Mineralization for Wastewater Treatment
Molecules
metal–organic framework
bacterial cellulose
adsorption
wastewater
title Green Fabrication of Zinc-Based Metal–Organic Frameworks@Bacterial Cellulose Aerogels via In Situ Mineralization for Wastewater Treatment
title_full Green Fabrication of Zinc-Based Metal–Organic Frameworks@Bacterial Cellulose Aerogels via In Situ Mineralization for Wastewater Treatment
title_fullStr Green Fabrication of Zinc-Based Metal–Organic Frameworks@Bacterial Cellulose Aerogels via In Situ Mineralization for Wastewater Treatment
title_full_unstemmed Green Fabrication of Zinc-Based Metal–Organic Frameworks@Bacterial Cellulose Aerogels via In Situ Mineralization for Wastewater Treatment
title_short Green Fabrication of Zinc-Based Metal–Organic Frameworks@Bacterial Cellulose Aerogels via In Situ Mineralization for Wastewater Treatment
title_sort green fabrication of zinc based metal organic frameworks bacterial cellulose aerogels via in situ mineralization for wastewater treatment
topic metal–organic framework
bacterial cellulose
adsorption
wastewater
url https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/5/982
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AT yongqicao greenfabricationofzincbasedmetalorganicframeworksbacterialcelluloseaerogelsviainsitumineralizationforwastewatertreatment
AT lipingtan greenfabricationofzincbasedmetalorganicframeworksbacterialcelluloseaerogelsviainsitumineralizationforwastewatertreatment
AT tongjunliu greenfabricationofzincbasedmetalorganicframeworksbacterialcelluloseaerogelsviainsitumineralizationforwastewatertreatment