Pillared‐Layer Metal‐Organic Frameworks (MOFs) for Photodegradation of Methyl Orange in Wastewater

• Published in: Advanced optical materials 2023-05, Vol.11 (10), p.n/a
• Main Authors: Habtemariam, Tesfaye Haile, Raju, V. J. T., Chebude, Yonas
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aqueous solutions; Dyes; Light irradiation; Materials science; Metal-organic frameworks; methyl orange; Optics; Photocatalysis; Photocatalysts; Photodegradation; pillared‐layer; Ultraviolet radiation; Wastewater
• ISSN: 2195-1071; 2195-1071
• DOI: 10.1002/adom.202202843

The photocatalytic performance of pillared‐layer metal‐organic framework (MOF), {[Cu2(Fu)2(BPY)]·H2O}n, is studied in detail toward the degradation of methyl orange as a model dye which is toxic, non‐biodegradable, and discharged to the environment as wastewater by textile industries. This model dye is degraded in the laboratory in the presence of UV light and semiconducting MOF, {[Cu2(Fu)2(BPY)]·H2O}n. The optimized conditions for the photodegradation efficiency of the MOF are achieved after considering the effect of pH and MOF loading at a fixed dye concentration. 96% of the 10‐ppm methyl orange is photodegraded after loading 0.25 g L−1 of the photocatalyst into an aqueous solution of the dye at pH 5.2 for 140 min UV light irradiation time. The photocatalyst is recycled five times and 96%, 88%, 87%, 80%, and 53% degradation efficiencies can be achieved in the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth cycles, respectively. The powder X‐ray diffraction analysis of the recycled photocatalyst shows that the crystallinity of the MOF is maintained in the five runs. Thus, {[Cu2(Fu)2(BPY)]·H2O}n assists the degradation of the environmentally hazardous methyl orange in the presence of UV light. A strategy for the performance of a pillared‐layer metal‐organic framework, MOF‐T23‐RT or {[Cu2(Fu)2(BPY)]·H2O}n, in the photodegradation of methyl orange in five cycles is developed. 96% photodegradation efficiency is achieved in the first cycle during 140 min irradiation of UV light.