Defective metal–organic framework derived from the waste plastic bottles for rapid and efficient nitroimidazole antibiotics removal

• Published in: Journal of colloid and interface science 2023-11, Vol.650 (Pt A), p.836-845
• Main Authors: Heng, Yu, Fang, Zhi, Li, Jian, Luo, Liqiong, Zheng, Mingze, Huang, Hongliang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adsorption; Antibiotics; Defective structure; Metal-organic framework; PET plastic waste; Wastewater treatment
• ISSN: 0021-9797; 1095-7103
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2023.07.049

[Display omitted] •Defective MIL-68(Al) was synthesized from waste PET plastic bottles.•d-MIL-68(Al) can remove nearly 97% of DMZ (C0 = 100 mg L−1) in the first 10 s.•d-MIL-68(Al) exhibits the record adsorption kinetic constant of 2.84 g mg−1 min−1.•The DMZ adsorption capacity of d-MIL-68(Al) is 3 times of MIL-68(Al).•Defects in d-MIL-68(Al) create more active sites and promote mass transfer. In order to alleviate the pressure on the ecological environment and human health caused by wastewater of nitroimidazole antibiotics and poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) plastic waste, we propose a strategy of using defective MIL-68(Al) (d-MIL-68(Al)) derived from waste PET plastic for dimetridazole (DMZ) capture. The resulting d-MIL-68(Al) exhibits an excellent adsorption capacity of 555.6 mg g−1, which is three times of pristine MIL-68(Al) (181.8 mg g−1), demonstrating that the defective structures in d-MIL-68(Al) play a crucial role in the adsorption process. Remarkably, d-MIL-68(Al) can remove nearly 97% of DMZ in the first 10 s, and the removal efficiency reached 99% after adsorption equilibrium, affording a record kinetic rate constant k2 (2.84 g mg−1 min−1). In short, d-MIL-68(Al) possesses both an ultrafast adsorption rate and outstanding adsorption capacity toward DMZ compared with reported adsorbents. Mechanism analysis reveals that the excellent DMZ adsorption performances can be ascribed to the abundant active sites caused by defective structures, as well as the π-π stacking and hydrogen bonding interactions between MOF and DMZ. Hence, d-MIL-68(Al) derived from waste PET plastic is an efficient porous adsorbent for rapid DMZ removal, which not only possesses great potential for wastewater treatment, but also reduces the harmful PET plastic waste, reflecting the concept of sustainable development.