Removal of glyphosate from aqueous solution by CuO coated MIL-101(Fe)

The composite of CuO coated MIL-101(Fe) (CuO@MIL-101(Fe)) was successfully prepared using a one-pot hydrothermal technology. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectrum (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), and TG technologies were used to characterize its structural, morphological, and physicochemical properties. CuO@MIL-101(Fe) exhibited a better pH adaptivity, a faster removal ratio of 95.8% for glyphosate within 10 min at pH 7, and a higher selectivity of adsorption capacity, even reaching 231.6 and 233.5 mg g −1 with coexisting Cl − (10 mmol L −1 ) and SO 4 2− (10 mmol L −1 ). The enhanced adsorption performances of CuO@MIL-101(Fe) may be caused by Cu forming a coordination interaction with glyphosate. A possible mechanism of glyphosate removal was discussed on the basis of the FTIR and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis. CuO@MIL-101(Fe) composite would be more favourable to capture glyphosate from wastewater.