Fast and efficient removal of mercury ions using zirconium-based metal–organic framework filter membranes

• Published in: Inorganic chemistry communications 2021-09, Vol.131, p.108796, Article 108796
• Main Authors: Yan, Xuyan, Feng, Jifei, Li, Peixian, Li, Jingjun, Ren, Baohui, Gao, Shuiying, Cao, Rong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Filter; High efficiency; Membranes; Mercury ions; Metal-organic framework
• ISSN: 1387-7003; 1879-0259
• DOI: 10.1016/j.inoche.2021.108796

MOF filter membrane is used to efficiently and quickly remove mercury ions from sewage. [Display omitted] •A simple and convenient method for preparing MOF membrane was proposed.•MOF membrane is more economical and environmentally friendly.•The MOF filter membrane can efficiently and quickly remove mercury ions.•The MOF filter membrane avoids the disadvantages of MOF powder material.•MOF filter membrane demonstrates excellent selectivity and stability. The mercury ions seriously threaten the environment and human health. It is desirable to remove mercury ions quickly and simply. Herein, the zirconium-based metal–organic framework (Zr-MOF) filter membranes for high efficiency mercury ions removing were in-situ prepared on the filter paper under mild conditions. Here, the Zr-MOF was constructed by coordination of Zr4+ ions and 2, 5-dimercaptoterephthalic acid (H2DMBD), which the free sulfhydryl group on the ligand is used to adsorb mercury ions. The prepared Zr-MOF filter membranes were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The mercury removal efficiency of the filter membranes is as high as 97.8% within a few minutes. The high efficient removal efficiency is derived from the presence of sulfhydryl functional groups of MOF and the ultra-high specific surface area of the formed small-sized MOF particles on the filter membrane. Compared with other MOF membranes and the corresponding MOF powders, our membranes exhibit the short-term and high-efficiency removal abilities of the filter membranes. This work provides an insight for the preparation of high-performance MOF membranes.