Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs adsorption from aqueous solution by MOFs MIL-100(Fe), ZIF-8 and UiO-66: Synthesis, characterization, and comparative study

• Published in: Journal of molecular structure 2025-02, Vol.1321, p.139698, Article 139698
• Main Authors: Cobian-Solorio, G.A., Aguayo-Villarreal, I.A., Rojas-Mayorga, C.K., Muñiz-Valencia, R., Emparan-Legaspi, M.J., Davila Guzman, N.E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adsorption; Drugs; Metal-organic frameworks; MIL-100(Fe); UiO-66; ZIF-8
• ISSN: 0022-2860
• DOI: 10.1016/j.molstruc.2024.139698

•The MIL-100(Fe) synthesis was carried out successfully without using any mineralizing agent such as HF or NH4F.•Due to the chemical characteristics of MIL-100 (Fe) and UiO-66 showed to be the most suitable MOFs for ibuprofen and naproxen adsorption.•For all MOFs with almost all adsorbats the equilibrium was reached within the first 120 min.•Analysis of the thermodynamic parameters of the adsorption process was conducted.•The adsorption mechanisms included π-π interactions, anion-π interactions, hydrogen bonding, and Lewis acid/base interactions. Pharmaceutical products such as ibuprofen and naproxen pose a potencial risk to the environment and to the human health. In this context, it is necessary seek and implement new effective and low-cost technologies for water treatment such as adsorption. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) emerge as promising adsorbent materials due to their structural diversity and stability. The obtained MOFs were characterized by SEM/EDX, XRD, FTIR, N2 at 77 K, DLS, and PZC. According to the textural parameters, the obtained MOFs have the next surface areas: MIL-100 (Fe) 1359 m2, ZIF-8 357 m2 and UiO-66 1654 m2. Having this differences in surface areas, alongside the different PZC of each materials, affect the adsorption capacity. According to the experimental data UiO-66 and MIL-100(Fe) had the highest ibuprofen adsorption capacity (152.3 mg g-1) and naproxen adsorption capacity (278.3 mg g-1), respectively. On the other hand, ZIF-8 has the lowest adsorption capacity of ibuprofen and naproxen (85.4 and 78.9 mg g-1 respectively). It was found that the best-fitting model according to its R2 for all materials with both adsorbates was the Sips model. Moreover, all materials with all adsorbates, except for UiO-66 with naproxen, reached equilibrium within the first 120 min and fitted the pseudo-second order model. According to thermodynamic parameters and analysis of fitted kinetic models, it was determined that during adsorption, a combination of physical and chemical phenomena occurs, from which the following interactions are proposed as the main adsorption mechanisms: hydrogen bonding, π -π interactions, anion-π interactions, and Lewis’ acid/base interactions. [Display omitted]